SECTION 112.2. Visual Dental Health Inspection

(a) A visual dental health inspection is performed as a group activity taking place in a school or other institutional setting for the purpose of making a gross assessment of the dental health status of group members, at no cost to the members. It is cursory and does not involve the use of dental instruments, though use of gloves, tongue depressors and intra oral lighting is encouraged. Further, it does not involve making a diagnosis, providing treatment, or treatment planning. Individuals performing visual dental health inspections in accordance with this chapter do not engage in the practice of dentistry if the inspection process is limited to recognizing when tissue does not appear normal and encouraging the member to appoint with a licensed Texas dentist.

(b) A visual dental health inspection may be performed by:

(1) a dentist, dental student, dental hygienist or dental hygiene student to conduct research or for educational purposes in the field of dentistry or dental hygiene; or

(2) dentists or dental hygienists employed by the State of Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Department of Aging and Disability (DADS), or by any public health dentist or dental hygienist employed by any other state, county, of city health department for the purposes of oral health surveillance, oral health program planning, or epidemiological surveys required by state or federal agencies.

(c) A visual dental health inspection performed under subsection (b) of this section is performed for the purpose of making a gross assessment of the dental health status of group members, at no cost to the members. It does not involve making a diagnosis, providing treatment, or treatment planning.

Source Note: The provisions of this §112.2 adopted to be effective April 16, 2000, 25 TexReg 3250; amended to be effective December 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 9641