Requirements include the use of FDA-approved lasers, completing a minimum 6-hour educational program with practical training in clinical simulation, and publishing the certificate at a dental facility. The law of practice and regulations say nothing about the use of lasers. States that currently prohibit the use of lasers by dental hygienists include Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and West Virginia. The remaining states have no regulations on the use of lasers by dental hygienists.
The recommendation of the Academy of Laser Dentistry is to always consult public information on the regulations of each state. Individual states regulate their own State Practice Act (SPA) and the Scope of Practice, which will determine the use of lasers by both dentists and hygienists who use dental lasers under their license. The Academy of Laser Dentistry wants to help ensure both the preservation of public safety and the freedom of clinical judgment by professionals.
