FAQs

• Graduated and received a diploma from a CODA-accredited dental school
• Successfully completed the Dental National Board Examination
• Passed a WREB, CRDT, SRTA, NERB/ADEX clinical exam
• Background status report through B&B Reporting
• Complete and pass the jurisprudence exam

• Graduated and received a diploma from an CODA-accredited dental school
• Hold a valid license in good standing by clinical exam in another state for five years or more
• Passed the Dental National Board Examination
• Completed 60 hours of approved continuing education during the past 36 months
• Background status report through B&B Reporting
• Complete and pass the Jurisprudence exam

• Postgraduate degree of certificate from an CODA-accredited dental school
• Approved residency program in one of the ADA-approved specialty areas
• Passed a WREB, CRDTS, SRTA or NERB/ADEX specialty exam

• All dental licenses are on a three-year cycle; licenses are renewed every three years
• Complete renewal application
• Pay required fees
• Complete 60 hours of continuing education
• Proof of current BLS or CPR
• Completed a course in infection control

No, all licenses expire on June 30 of your renewal year.

• The request for retirement status can be made through the online licensing portal prior to the expiration of license.
• Include actual date of retirement and proof of written notification of approaching retirement to all patients currently under active treatment.
• Specify location where all active dental treatment records will be maintained for a minimum of two years.
• Include a list of all continuing education courses taken since the last license renewal.

• If you have been in retirement status for less than three years, you may reinstate your license by making the request to the board.
• If the license has been in retirement status for more than three years, you must reapply for licensure as a new applicant.

• You may reinstate the license within the year of revocation.
• If the licensed is revoked for more than a year from the date of revocation, you must reapply for a license as a new applicant.

Refer to 16.5.15 NMAC of the NM Board of Dental Health Care Rules for more information. 

Yes, as long as they have a NM dental license. Otherwise, it is not allowed as it would be practicing dentistry without a license.

Yes, refer to 16.5.3 — Mandatory self-reporting is required.

Any provider certified by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or the American Safety and Health Institute, and EMS Safety Services or National Safety Council (cannot be self-study course).

• Graduated and received a diploma from an CODA accredited Dental Hygiene Program
• Successfully completed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination
• Passed a WREB, CRDTS, SRTA or NERB/ADEX clinical exam
• Background status report through B&B Reporting
• Complete and pass the Jurisprudence exam

• Graduated and received a diploma from an CODA accredited Dental Hygiene Program
• Hold a valid license in good standing by clinical exam in another state
• Passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination
• Completed 15 hours of approved continuing education during the past year
• Background status report through B&B Reporting
• Complete and pass the Jurisprudence exam

Visit the New Mexico Administrative Code for details.

• All Dental Hygiene licenses are on a three-year cycle; licenses are renewed every three years.
• Complete renewal application
• Pay required fees
• Complete 45 hours of continuing education
• Current BLS or CPR
• Complete a course in infection control.

No, all licenses expire on June 30 of your renewal year.

• A request for retirement status can be made through the online licensing portal prior to the expiration of license
• Include actual date of retirement
• Include a list of all continuing education courses taken since the last license renewal

• If you have been in retirement status for less than 3 years, you may reinstate your license.
• If the license has been in retirement status for more than three (3) years, you must reapply for licensure as a new applicant.

• You may reinstate the license within the year of revocation.
• If the licensed is revoked for more than a year from the date of revocation, you must reapply for a license as a new applicant.

Yes. The administration of local anesthesia requires the indirect supervision of a dentist.

No, a Dental hygienist may not deliver botox/derma fillers. Refer to 16.5.14.8(a) NMAC where the delivery of Botox/derma fillers is considered the “Practice of Dentistry” by a dentist and 16.5.14.8(c) NMAC where it says “all dental auxiliaries are prohibited from administering Botox/derma fillers.”

The New Mexico Practice Act states that a Dental Hygienists (non-collaborative dental hygienist) practices under general supervision and further defines our scope of practice in various statutes and rules. See the three items below as an answer to your question:

1. The statute (the law as passed by the NM legislature) states the legal scope of practice for a dental hygienist, note what it says about therapeutic, which whitening can fall under (61-5A-4.B) Scope of Practice  B. As used in the Dental Health Care Act, “the practice of dental hygiene” means the application of the science of the prevention and treatment of oral disease through the provision of educational, assessment, preventive, clinical, and other therapeutic services under the general supervision of a dentist. A dental hygienist in a collaborative practice may perform the procedures listed in this section without general supervision while the hygienist is in a cooperative working relationship with a consulting dentist, pursuant to rules promulgated by the board and the committee. The practice of dental hygiene includes:

(1)          prophylaxis, which is the removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the tooth structures as a means to control local irritational factors;

(2)          removing diseased crevicular tissue and related nonsurgical periodontal procedures;

(3)          except in cases where a tooth exhibits cavitation of the enamel surface, assessing without a dentist’s evaluation whether the application of pit and fissure sealants is indicated;

(4)          except in cases where a tooth exhibits cavitation of the enamel surface, applying pit and fissure sealants without mechanical alteration of the tooth;

(5)          applying fluorides and other topical therapeutic and preventive agents;

(6)          exposing and assessing oral radiographs for abnormalities;

(7)          screening to identify indications of oral abnormalities;

(8)          performing dental hygiene-focused assessments;

(9)          assessing periodontal conditions; and

(10)       such other closely related services as permitted by the rules of the committee and the board.    C.  In addition to performing dental hygiene as defined in Subsection B of this section, a dental hygienist may apply preventive topical fluorides and remineralization agents without supervision in public and community medical facilities, schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and such other settings as the committee may determine by rule ratified by the board, so long as the dental hygienist’s license is not restricted pursuant to the Impaired Dentists and Dental Hygienists Act [61-5B-1 to 61-5B-11 NMSA 1978].

(NMAC 16.5.1.7. P) General supervision means the authorization by a dentist of the procedures to be used by a dental hygienist, dental assistant, expanded function dental auxiliary, dental student, dental therapist, or community dental health coordinator and the execution of the procedures in accordance with a dentist’s diagnosis and treatment plan at a time the dentist is not physically present and in facilities as designated by the rules of the board.

3. Dental assistants work under indirect supervision which is a more limited supervision than a dental hygienist. Those functions that a dental assistant can perform are also acceptable functions for dental hygienists working under general supervision.

(NMAC 16.5.1.7. R) “Indirect supervision” means that a dentist, or in certain settings a dental hygienist or dental assistant certified in expanded functions, is present in the treatment facility while authorized treatments are being performed by a dental hygienist, dental assistant, dental therapist, or dental student as defined in 61-5A-3 NMSA 1978.

1. Consult: American Dental and Dental Hygiene Associations Standards of Care which state what is minimally required for reasonable treatment.
2. Dental hygienist mainly practice under general supervision unless they have a collaborative license to practice outside that supervision.

The NM Administrative Rules has these definitions regarding the meaning of this kind of oversight and the roles dentists play in this oversight:

(NMAC 16.5.1.7. P) “General supervision” means the authorization by a dentist of the procedures to be used by a dental hygienist, dental assistant, expanded function dental auxiliary, dental student, dental therapist, or community dental health coordinator and the execution of the procedures in accordance with a dentist’s diagnosis and treatment plan at a time the dentist is not physically present and in facilities as designated by the rules of the board.

(NMAC 16.5.1.7. FF) “Supervision” means the dentist shall adequately monitor the performance of all personnel, licensed or unlicensed, that he or she supervises.  The dentist is ultimately responsible for quality patient care and may be held accountable for all services provided by administrative and clinical individuals that the dentist supervises

(NMAC 16.5.1.7. FF) “Supervising dentist” means a dentist that maintains the records of a patient, is responsible for their care, has reviewed their current medical history and for purposes of authorization, has examined that patient within the previous 11 months or will examine that patient within 30 days of giving authorization.

3. Consult (NMAC 16.5.1.24.C) “Record Keeping” where it states in part the parameters of ‘active patients’ to be: “those active treatment records are records of patients in the 12 previous months”
4. Consult (NMAC 16.5.17.11.A) “Collaborative Practice Dental Hygiene” helps defines practice management parameters of a collaborative practice dental hygienist by saying, “a collaborative practice dental hygienist shall: refer each patient for a dental examination every 12 months…etc.

No, refer to 16.5.29.12

No

No, a dental hygienist may not deliver botox/derma fillers. refer to 16.5.14.8(a) NMAC where the delivery of Botox/derma fillers is considered the “Practice of Dentistry” by a dentist. See also, and 16.5.14.8(c) NMAC where it says “all dental auxiliaries are prohibited from administering Botox/derma fillers.

• Completed training in the expanded function; click on link for further details
• Passed the Dental Assisting National Board Exam (DANB) in that expanded function
• Complete and pass the jurisprudence exam
• Pass the New Mexico clinical exam

• Verification of a current valid certificate from another state, or
• An Official letter from the director of an accredited dental hygiene program indicating the applicant has completed coursework in the requested expanded function, or
• Proof of Current, valid certification as a CDA issued by DANB.

All certifications, letters and validations must be received directly by the NM Board office from the state, institution, or DANB.

• All Dental Assistant licenses are on a three-year cycle; licenses are renewed every three years.
• Complete renewal application
• Pay required renewal fees
• Complete 30 hours of continuing education; if renewing certification in Radiography three hours of radiographic technique or safety and protection is required
• Proof of current BLS or CPR
• Completed a course in infection control.

No, all licenses expire on June 30 of your renewal year.

No, dental assistant certifications do not have inactive or retirement status.

• You may reinstate the license within the year of revocation.
• If the licensed is revoked for more than a year from the date of revocation, you must reapply for a license as a new applicant.

Refer to 16.5.33.9

All dental therapy licenses are on a 3-year cycle.

Complete renewal application

Pay required fees

Complete 60 hours of continuing education 16.5.62

No, all licenses expire on June 30 of your renewal year.

You may reinstate the license within the year of revocation. If the license is revoked for more than 1 year from the date of revocation, you must reapply for a license as a new applicant.