VOLUME 27, ISSUE 1

“intraoral, block, or infiltration anesthesia under the authorization and supervision of a dentist.” In what is perhaps the most illuminating language in the bill, this section is also amended to state “A dental hygienist may not establish an independent practice to provide services authorized by this subtitle.”

This language reflects the National strategy of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association to grant hygienists independent practice. The first step is authorization to perform anesthesia, the second is to allow hygienists to work in community-based settings like public health clinics, schools, and nursing homes, and lastly to have independent practice. Already 15 states recognize hygienists as Medicaid providers and 5 states allow for independent practice.

These bills would grant someone with a history degree, an associate’s degree in dental hygiene the authority to perform local anesthetic infiltration and nerve blocks. These come with all the risks of local or regional anesthesias, including infection, ischemia, permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, paresthesias, local anesthetic toxicity, hypotension, seizures, cardiac dysrhythmias, anaphylaxis and death. This may concern the delegation of authority for a dentist, but as the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists we should be concerned about the education of all who perform anesthesia in Texas and for the safety of their patients. I strongly urge you to contact your legislator to discuss these bills and the inherent dangers associated with these procedures If you don’t know who represents you or how to contact them, contact the TSA Director of Governmental Affairs. Patient safety is first!