HYGIENE HOT SPOT Hygienists and Neuromodular Administration

During this past legislative session, Oklahoma joined four other states in allowing dental hygienists to perform neuromodular administration after they are trained through a program approved by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (BOD). After being trained and approved, hygienists performing this advanced procedure must be under the direct supervision of a dentist, and it may only be on a patient of record.

The process for hygienists to obtain this new ability include completing a pre-approved certification program (see Approved Courses) then submitting an official Dental Hygiene Neuromodulator Administration Application form to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry. The form can be found online at ok.gov/ dentistry/Applications_&_Forms/

Applicants must be a hygienist with at least two years of licensed experience who already hold the Administration of Local Anesthesia advanced procedure certification. Applicants will be required to provide a statement with their application ensuring every neuromodulator injected by the applicant is approved for the use in dentistry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Applicants must also secure, maintain, and show proof of malpractice insurance annually.

Benefits

According to the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, the use of Botox® (Botulinum toxin-A) is showing promising results in the management of muscle-generated dental diseases like TMJ disorder, bruxism, clenching, and masseter hypertrophy. Hygienists may also use neuromodulators for temporomandibular joint disorder and myofascial pain syndrome as diagnosed by the treating dentist.

Botox® is also being used to treat functional or esthetic dental and facial conditions like deep nasolabial fold, radial lip lines, high lip lines, and black triangles between teeth. Treatment outcomes usually last eight months or longer, after which the treatment will likely need to be repeated.

Training Course Requirements

The training must be a minimum of 24 total hours in length, including a minimum of 4 hours of didactic and 4 hours of clinical training in each of the following three subjects:

(i.) Use of neuromodulators that are derived from Clostridium botulinum or that are biosimilar to or the bioequivalent of such a neuromodulator in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder and myofascial pain syndrome;

(ii.) Use of neuromodulators that are derived from Clostridium botulinum that are biosimilar to or the bioequivalent of such a neuromodulator for dental and facial esthetics; and

(iii.) Use of dermal and soft tissue fillers for dental or facial esthetics.

by Krista Jones, DDS

Approved Botox Courses For Oklahoma Hygienists

Classes must be reviewed by the Allied Dental Health Committee then submitted to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry for final approval before becoming an officially approved course that leads to authorization. As of publication date, the three courses that have been reviewed by the committee and approved by the BOD include: advanceddentalce.org dentaspa-seminars.com facialesthetics.org

1) The Advanced Dental Institute (ADI) - 24 hours of CE: Comprehensive Botox/TMJ & Dermal Fillers Course.

2) DentaSpa Seminars (DSS) - two days of instruction totalling 24 hours of CE: Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Filler Dental Training.

3) American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE) - three courses totalling 30 hours of CE: Level I Botulinum Toxin (10 hrs), Level I Dermal Fillers (10 hrs), and Frontline TMJ & Facial Pain Therapy Level I (10 hrs).

Krista Jones, DDS graduated from the OU College of Dentistry in 1981, and had a private restorative dental general practice for 39 years before retiring in 2020. She has been active in organized dentistry and has been president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, Oklahoma County Dental Society, Oklahoma Association of Women Dentists, an ADA Delegate, and a founding member of the J. Dean Robertson Society, also serving on their Board of

Directors. Dr. Jones was named Dentist of the year by the ODA and received its Jim Saddoris Lifetime Leadership Award. Dr. Jones is currently a District 5 member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry and is an Examiner for licensure with the CDCA, WREB, CITA. She is a Fellow with the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Academy of Dentistry International.