OHA Healthcare Interpreter Registry
OAR 818-012-0030(24) requires that Licensees utilize the OHA Healthcare Interpreter Registry. As part of the passage of House Bill 2359, health care providers who are reimbursed with public funds are now required to work with health care interpreters certified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Qualified interpreters can be found in OHA's Health Care Interpreter Registry.
Per HB 2359, there are some exceptions for health care providers in working with a health care interpreter, including that:
- The health care provider is proficient in the preferred language of the person with limited English proficiency.
- The person with limited English proficiency has an interpreter they prefer to work with who is not on OHA's registry (such as a family member).
- The health care provider tried to find an interpreter using OHA's registry, but no interpreters were available.
For more information about HB 2359, OHA's central registry, or health care interpreter services, visit the Health Care Interpreter Program website. A link to a recent FAQ is below:
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/EI/HCI%20Non%20Meeting%20Documents/Oregon%20Health%20Care%20Interpreter%20Fact%20Sheet%20June%202023.pdf
OHA Provider Incentive Program
The 2017 Oregon Legislature approved HB 3261, establishing the Healthcare Provider Incentives Program within the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to support access to care for underserved communities throughout Oregon. The Program offers various incentives, which include loan repayment, loan forgiveness and insurance subsidies to both students and providers who commit to serving patients in underserved areas of the state. This program is overseen by OHA and is being administered in partnership with the Oregon Office of Rural Health.
Dental Implant Rule Changes (Effective Janaury 1, 2024) Guidance Document
New Pain Management CE Requirement
Effective July 1, 2022,
all Oregon-licensed dentists must complete a one-hour pain management
training course during every renewal cycle, for as long as the licensee holds
an active license. FAQs regarding this new requirement can be found HERE in an excerpt from the OBD December 2021 Newlsetter.
BLS and/or ACLS/PALS
Please be aware that all Licensees must comply with the requirement to maintain a current and valid BLSfor Healthcare Providers (and/or ACLS/PALS certificates if necessary for your anesthesia permit requirements). These must be maintained at all times while licensed by the Oregon Board of Dentistry.
*Reminder - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) do not serve as a substitute for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS).
Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee
With the passage of HB 2528, the Board voted to create the Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee, to begin the task of promulgating new rules for the Board to consider adopting in 2022.
Interim Therapeutic Restorations
HB 2627 amended ORS 680.205 to allow expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations. Rules went into effect January 1, 2022 reflecting this amendment.
Vaccinations
HB 2220 - New Bill signed by Governor Brown on May 6, 2019, allows dentists (with appropriate training) to administer vaccinations to patients of record.
The Board has implemented new rules regarding dentists administering vaccinations. Two new rules, OAR 818-012-0006 and OAR 818-012-0007 address this and can be reviewed here.
The OHA also has rules that dentists are required to comly with to administer vaccinations here.
Cultural Competence Continuing Education (CE)
HB 2011 (2019) Requires Cultural Competency CE
The Board will require (2) two hours of this CE, beginning in 2021. You will still need your 40, 36 or 24 hours for a two year license period. The two hours of cultual competency CE will be calculated within your total hour requirement.
"Cultural competency continuing education is a life-long process of examining values and beliefs while developing and applying an inclusive approach to healthcare practice in a manner that recognizes the context and complexities of provider-patient interactions and preserves the dignity of individuals, families and communities.
Continuing education in cultural competency should teach attitudes, knowledge and skills to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups and communities."
Expanded Functions Dental Assistants - Placing Retraction Material Subgingivally
Did you know that dental assistants in Oregon who are EFDA certified, and who have completed a Board Approved course can place retraction material subgingivally? In October 2015 the Oregon Board of Dentistry amended OAR 818-042-0090 Additional Functions of EFDAs to allow EFDAs to place retraction material subgingivally.
818-042-0090
Additional Functions of EFDAs
Upon successful completion of a course of instruction in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, or other course of instruction approved by the Board, a certified Expanded Function Dental Assistant may perform the following functions under the indirect supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist providing that the procedure is checked by the dentist or dental hygienist prior to the patient being dismissed:
(1) Apply pit and fissure sealants provided the patient is examined before the sealants are placed. The sealants must be placed within 45 days of the procedure being authorized by a dentist or dental hygienist.
(2) Apply temporary soft relines to complete dentures for the purpose of tissue conditioning.
(3) Place retraction material subgingivally.
If you are interested in your EFDA being able to place retraction material subgingivally, following are the links to either apply to become an instructor or to find an instructor who has already been approved to put on the course:
Dental Hygienists - Silver Nitrate
Dental hygienists in the state of Oregon can administer silver nitrate, as it is considered an antimicrobial agent. Pursuant to OAR 818-035-0030(1)(e) a dental hygienist can "Administer and dispense antimicrobial solutions or other antimicrobial agents in the performance of dental hygiene functions".
Oregon Pain Guidance - Oregon Health Authority
The Oregon state resource for healthcare professionals treating pain. For information on the following subjects and more please visit the
Oregon Pain Guidance - Website:
- Pain Treatment Guidelines
- Non-Opioid Options
- Treating Pain in Children and Adolescents
- Recommended Opioid Policy for Dentists
DEQ - EPA Dental Rule Compliance
Questions regarding the DEQ - EPA Dental Rule Compliance should be directed to:
Etsegenet Belete
Pretreatment Program Coordinator
Telephone: 503-229-5586
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Legislation was passed in February 2018, along with rules enacted by the OHA requiring all dentists with an Oregon active Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration to register with the PDMP by July 1, 2018.
If you have any trouble registering, please contact the PDMP directly, their email address is
pdmp.health@state.or.us.
HbA1c
At its Board Meeting on December 14, 2018, the Board of Dentistry recognized that it is within the scope of practice for a licensee to perform in-office A1C diabetes screening test for at-risk patients. The Board noted that: a) such testing is not presumed to be the standard of care; and b) for A1C screenings beyond the normal range, licensees should refer patients to a physician for a formal evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
For information regarding HbA1c testing, the American Dental Association has published a guide point of care, diabetes testing and reporting.