Section 73-9-5 - "Dental hygiene" defined(1) For the purpose of this chapter, a dental hygienist shall be an individual who has completed an accredited dental hygiene education program, passed the national dental hygiene board and is licensed by the State Board of Dental Examiners to provide, as an auxiliary to the dentist, preventive care services including, but not limited to, scaling and polishing. In fulfilling these services, dental hygienists provide treatment that helps to prevent oral disease such as dental caries and periodontal disease and for educating patients in prevention of these and other dental problems.(2) The work of dental hygienists and dental assistants while working in the office of a regularly licensed and registered dentist shall at all times be under the direct supervision of the dentist. Dental hygienists in the employ of the State Board of Health or public school boards shall be limited to only performing oral hygiene instruction and screening when under the general supervision and direction of regularly licensed and registered dentists. Dental hygienists recognized by the Board of Dental Examiners when making public demonstrations of dental hygiene for educational purposes shall be under the general supervision and direction of regularly licensed and registered dentists.(3) The Board of Dental Examiners may prohibit any dental hygienist or other auxiliary personnel from rendering service that it feels is not in the best interest of the public welfare.Codes, 1930, § 4296; 1942, § 8748; Laws, 1928, ch. 131; Laws, 1966, ch. 464, § 1; Laws, 1970, ch. 418, § 2; reenacted without change, Laws, 1983, ch. 488, § 3; reenacted, Laws, 1991, ch. 483, § 3; reenacted without change, Laws, 1997, ch. 541, § 3; Laws, 2000, ch. 560, § 2; reenacted without change, Laws, 2002, ch. 524, § 3, eff. 6/30/2002.