# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 44 — Board of Dental Examiners

### Chapter 04 — Practice of Dental Hygiene

#### Regulation .03 Intraoral Functions.

*COMAR 10.44.04.03*

A. The following intraoral functions may be performed in the practice of dental hygiene:

  (1) Preliminary dental examination;

  (2) Dental prophylaxis, which includes:

    (a) Scaling and root planing; or

    (b) Polishing a tooth or a restoration;

  (3) Placing and removing perio dressings, including an initial dressing;

  (4) Placing sealants;

  (5) Taking impressions for study models, custom fluoride trays, or athletic mouth guards;

  (6) Exposing a dental x-ray;

  (7) Performing a brush biopsy;

  (8) Placing subgingival medicaments;

  (9) Cementing temporary crowns or restorations; and

  (10) Performing any duty that a dental assistant, or a dental assistant who is listed on the roster of dental assistants recognized as qualified in orthodontics or general duties, may perform.

B. A dental hygienist may administer local anesthesia by infiltration and local anesthesia by inferior alveolar nerve block only after Board recognition as provided in this chapter.

C. A dental hygienist may perform manual curettage in conjunction with scaling and root planning only after meeting the requirements of Regulation .12 of this chapter.

D. A dental hygienist may administer nitrous oxide only after Board recognition as provided in this chapter.