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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56697</law_id><section_number>54.1-2712</section_number><catch_line>Permissible practices</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="27">Dentistry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Licensure of Dentists</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following activities shall be permissible:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Dental assistants or <span class="dictionary">dental hygienists</span> aiding or assisting licensed <span class="dictionary">dentists</span>, or dental assistants aiding or assisting <span class="dictionary">dental hygienists</span> under the general supervision of a <span class="dictionary">dentist</span> in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Practice of dental assistants" href="/54.1-2729.01/">54.1-2729.01</a>; <a id="paragraph-207472" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The performance of mechanical work on inanimate <span class="dictionary">objects</span> only, for licensed <span class="dictionary">dentists</span>, by any person employed in or operating a dental laboratory; <a id="paragraph-207473" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Dental students who are enrolled in accredited D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree programs performing dental operations, under the direction of competent instructors (i) within a dental school or college, dental department of an institution of higher education, or other dental facility within an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; (ii) in a dental clinic operated by a nonprofit organization providing <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> care; (iii) in governmental or <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> care clinics in which the student is assigned to practice during his final academic year rotations; (iv) in a private dental office for a limited time during the student&#x2019;s final academic year when under the direct tutorial supervision of a licensed <span class="dictionary">dentist</span> holding appointment on the dental faculty of the school in which the student is enrolled; or (v) practicing <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> in a private dental office under the direct supervision of a licensed <span class="dictionary">dentist</span> holding appointment on the dental faculty of the school in which the student is enrolled; <a id="paragraph-207474" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> A licensed <span class="dictionary">dentist</span> from another state or country appearing as a clinician for demonstrating technical procedures before a dental society or organization, convention, or dental college, or performing his duties in connection with a specific case on which he may have been called to the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-207475" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> <span class="dictionary">Dental hygiene</span> students enrolled in an accredited <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> program performing <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> practices as a requisite of the program, under the direction of competent instructors, as defined by regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of <span class="dictionary">Dentistry</span>, (i) within a <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> program in a dental school or college, or department thereof, or other dental facility within an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; (ii) in a dental clinic operated by a nonprofit organization providing <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> care; (iii) in a governmental or <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> care clinic in which the student is assigned to practice during his final academic year rotations; or (iv) in a private dental office for a limited time during the student&#x2019;s final academic year when under the direct supervision of a licensed <span class="dictionary">dentist</span> or licensed <span class="dictionary">dental hygienist</span> holding appointment on the dental faculty of the school in which the student is enrolled; and <a id="paragraph-207476" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> A graduate of an accredited dental program or a graduate of an accredited <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> program engaging in clinical practice under the supervision of a licensed faculty member, but only while participating in a continuing education course offered by a dental program or <span class="dictionary">dental hygiene</span> program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. <a id="paragraph-207477" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2712/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 54-147; 1970, c. 639; 1972, c. 805; 1975, c. 479; 1985, c. 373; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 131; 1994, c. 749; 2004, c. 754; 2005, cc. 505, 587; 2008, cc. 84, 264; 2012, cc. 20, 116.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
