AN ACT ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PROVIDE DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES IN PATIENTS' PRIVATE RESIDENCES.

HB5140 / File No. 739 1

House of Representatives

File No. 739
General Assembly
February Session, 2026 (Reprint of File No. 33)

House Bill No. 5140
As Amended by House Amendment
Schedule "A"

Approved by the Legislative Commissioner
April 29, 2026

AN ACT ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PROVIDE DENTAL
HYGIENE SERVICES IN PATIENTS' PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 20 -126l of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) As used in this section: 3
(1) "General supervision of a licensed dentist" means supervision that 4
authorizes dental hygiene procedures to be performed with the 5
knowledge of said licensed dentist, whether or not the dentist is on the 6
premises when such procedures are being performed; 7
(2) "Public health facility" means an institution, as defined in section 8
19a-490, a community health center, a group home, a school, a preschool 9
operated by a local or regional board of education, a head start program 10
or a program offered or sponsored by the federal Special Supplemental 11
Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, a senior center or a 12

HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 2

managed residential community, as defined in section 19a -693, a 13
licensed child care center, as described in section 19a-77, or a temporary 14
dental clinic, as defined in section 20-126c; 15
(3) The "practice of dental hygiene" means the performance of 16
educational, preventive and therapeutic services including: Complete 17
prophylaxis; the removal of calcareous deposits, accretions and stains 18
from the supragingival and subgingival surfaces of the teeth by scaling, 19
root planing and polishing; the application of pit and fissure sealants 20
and topical solutions to exposed portions of the teeth; dental hygiene 21
examinations and the charting of oral conditions; dental hygiene 22
assessment, treatment planning and evaluation; the administration of 23
local anesthesia in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of 24
this section; taking alginate impressions of teeth, under the indirect 25
supervision of a dentist, for use in study models, orthodontic 26
appliances, whitening trays, mouth guards and fabrication of temporary 27
crowns; and collaboration in the implementation of the oral health care 28
regimen; and 29
(4) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing 30
education activity. 31
(b) No person shall engage in the practice of dental hygiene unless 32
such person (1) has a dental hygiene license issued by the Department 33
of Public Health and (A) is practicing under the general supervision of 34
a licensed dentist, [or] (B) has been practicing as a licensed dental 35
hygienist for at least two years, is practicing in a public health facility 36
and complies with the requirements of subsection (e) of this section, or 37
(C) has been practicing as a licensed dental hygienist for at least two 38
years, is practicing in the private residence of a patient and complies 39
with the requirements of subsection (e) of this section and the provisions 40
of the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (m) of this section, or 41
(2) has a dental license. 42
(c) A dental hygienist licensed under sections 20 -126h to 20 -126w, 43
inclusive, shall be known as a "dental hygienist" and no other person 44
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 3

shall assume such title or use the abbreviation "R.D.H." or any other 45
words, letters or figures which indicate that the person using such 46
words, letters or figures is a licensed dental hygienist. Any person who 47
employs or permits any other person except a licensed dental hygienist 48
to practice dental hygiene shall be subject to the penalties provided in 49
section 20-126t. 50
(d) A licensed dental hygienist may administer local anesthesia, 51
limited to infiltration and mandibular blocks, under the indirect 52
supervision of a licensed dentist, provided the dental hygienist can 53
demonstrate successful completion of a course of instruction containing 54
basic and current concepts of local anesthesia and pain control in a 55
program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its 56
successor organization, that includes: (1) Twenty hours of didactic 57
training, including, but not limited to, the psychology of pain 58
management; a review of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology of 59
anesthetic agents, emergency precautions and management, and client 60
management; instruction on the safe and effective administration of 61
anesthetic agents; and (2) eight hours of clinical training which includes 62
the direct observation of the performance of procedures. For purposes 63
of this subsection, "indirect supervision" means a licensed dentist 64
authorizes and prescribes the use of local anesthesia for a patient and 65
remains in the dental office or other location where the services are 66
being performed by the dental hygienist. 67
(e) A licensed dental hygienist shall not perform the following dental 68
services: (1) Diagnosis for dental procedures or dental treatment; (2) the 69
cutting or removal of any hard or soft tissue or suturing; (3) the 70
prescribing of drugs or medication which require the written or oral 71
order of a licensed dentist or physician; (4) the administration of 72
parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents in connection with 73
any dental operative procedure; (5) the taking of any impression of the 74
teeth or jaws or the relationship of the teeth or jaws for the purpose of 75
fabricating any appliance or prosthesis; (6) the placing, finishing and 76
adjustment of temporary or final restorations, capping materials and 77
cement bases. 78
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 4

(f) Each dental hygienist practicing in a public health facility or the 79
private residence of a patient shall (1) refer for treatment any patient 80
with needs outside the dental hygienist's scope of practice, and (2) 81
coordinate such referral for treatment to dentists licensed pursuant to 82
chapter 379. 83
(g) Each licensed dental hygienist applying for license renewal shall 84
earn a minimum of sixteen contact hours of continuing education within 85
the preceding twenty -four-month period, including, for registration 86
periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, at least one contact hour 87
of training or education in infection control in a dental setting and, for 88
registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2017, at least one 89
contact hour of training or education in cultural competency. The 90
subject matter for continuing education shall reflect the professional 91
needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public. 92
Continuing education activities shall provide significant theoretical or 93
practical content directly related to clinical or scientific aspects of dental 94
hygiene. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not 95
limited to, courses, including on -line courses, that are offered or 96
approved by dental schools and other institutions of higher education 97
that are accredited or recognized by the Council on Dental 98
Accreditation, a regional accrediting organization, the American Dental 99
Association, a state, district or local dental association or society 100
affiliated with the American Dental Association, the National Dental 101
Association, the American Dental Hygienists Association or a state, 102
district or local dental hygiene association or society affiliated with the 103
American Dental Hygienists Association, the Academy of General 104
Dentistry, the Academy of Dental Hygiene, the American Red Cross or 105
the American Heart Association when sponsoring programs in 106
cardiopulmonary resuscitation or cardiac life support, the United States 107
Department of Veterans Affairs and armed forces of the United States 108
when conducting programs at United States governmental facilities, a 109
hospital or other health care institution, agencies or businesses whose 110
programs are accredited or recognized by the Council on Dental 111
Accreditation, local, state or national medical associations, or a state or 112
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 5

local health department. Eight hours of volunteer dental practice at a 113
public health facility, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, may be 114
substituted for one contact hour of continuing education, up to a 115
maximum of five contact hours in one two -year period. Activities that 116
do not qualify toward meeting these requirements include professional 117
organizational business meetings, speeches delivered at luncheons or 118
banquets, and the reading of books, articles, or professional journals. 119
(h) Each licensee applying for license renewal pursuant to section 120
19a-88, except a licensee applying for a license renewal for the first time, 121
shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing 122
education requirements described in subsection (g) of this section on a 123
form prescribed by the department. Each licensee shall retain records of 124
attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance 125
with the continuing education requirements described in subsection (g) 126
of this section for not less than three years following the date on which 127
the continuing education was completed or the license was renewed. 128
Each licensee shall submit such records to the department for inspection 129
not later than forty-five days after a request by the department for such 130
records. A licensee who fails to comply with the provisions of this 131
section may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 20-126o. 132
(i) In individual cases involving medical disability or illness, the 133
Commissioner of Public Health may grant a waiver of the continuing 134
education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill 135
the requirements of this subsection to any licensee, provided the 136
licensee submits to the Department of Public Health an application for 137
waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by the commissioner, 138
along with a certification by a licensed physician, a licensed physician 139
assistant or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse of the 140
disability or illness and such other documentation as may be required 141
by the commissioner. The commissioner may grant a waiver or 142
extension for a period not to exceed one registration period, except the 143
commissioner may grant additional waivers or extensions if the medical 144
disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension is granted 145
continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension and the licensee 146
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 6

applies for an additional waiver or extension. 147
(j) A licensee who is not engaged in active professional practice, in 148
any form, during a registration period shall be exempt from the 149
continuing education requirements, provided the licensee submits a 150
notarized application for exemption on a form prescribed by the 151
commissioner prior to the end of the registration period. A licensee who 152
is exempt under the provisions of this subsection may not engage in 153
professional practice until the licensee has met the continuing education 154
requirements of this section. 155
(k) A licensee whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-156
88 and who applies to the department for reinstatement of such license, 157
shall: (1) Submit evidence of completion of a minimum of twenty -four 158
contact hours of qualifying continuing education, as described in 159
subsection (g) of this section, during the two -year period immediately 160
preceding the application for reinstatement; or (2) for an applicant who 161
has not been in the active practice of dental hygiene for more than two 162
years, submit evidence of successful completion of the National Board 163
Dental Hygiene Examination, the North East Regional Board of Dental 164
Examiners Examination in Dental Hygiene or a refresher course 165
approved by the department during the one-year period immediately 166
preceding the application for reinstatement. 167
(l) No provision of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a 168
student of dental hygiene enrolled in a dental hygiene program, as 169
described in section 20-126i, from performing dental hygiene work as a 170
required component of his or her course of study in such program, 171
provided the student (1) performs such work under the direct 172
supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to chapter 379 or a dental 173
hygienist licensed pursuant to this chapter, (2) shall not hold himself or 174
herself out as a licensed dental hygienist, and (3) shall not receive 175
compensation for such work. 176
(m) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in 177
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish requirements 178
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 7

for a licensed dental hygienist's practice of dental hygiene in the private 179
residence of a patient, as described in subsection (b) of this section, 180
including, but not limited to, (1) a definition of eligible patients, (2) a 181
requirement that a patient have a documented, comprehensive oral 182
health care plan established prior to treatment, (3) establishment of 183
emergency protocols for the management of medical or dental 184
complications, (4) standards for infection control, equipment and safety 185
for the provision of care in a private residence, and (5) additional 186
safeguards the commissioner deems necessary to ensure patient safety, 187
provider safety and continuity of care. 188
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 20-126l

HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 8

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill allows certain dental hygienists to provide services in private
residences without a dentist’s general supervision, resulting in no fiscal
impact to the state or municipalities. The Department of Public Health
has the necessary expertise to adopt regulations as required by the bill.
House "A" strikes the underlying bill and its associated fiscal impact,
resulting in the impact described above.

HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 9

OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5140 (as amended by House “A”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE NEEDS OF SENIOR
CITIZENS.

SUMMARY
This bill allows dental hygienists who have been practicing for at
least two years to provide dental hygiene services, without a dentist’s
general supervision, in patients’ homes so long as they comply with (1)
the scope of practice limitations in existing law and (2) regulations,
which the bill requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to adopt.
Existing law already allows these hygienists to do this in public health
facilities (such as hospitals, residential care homes, and senior centers).
*House Amendment “A” replaces the underlying bill, which
required a study of seniors’ needs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
SCOPE OF PRACTICE LIMITATIONS
As under existing law for dental hygienists practicing in public health
facilities, the bill requires those practicing in a patient ’s home to refer
the patient to a licensed dentist if his or her needs exceed the hygienist’s
scope of practice (see BACKGROUND).
Under existing law and the bill, dental hygienists may not perform
certain dental services, such as making a diagnosis for dental
procedures or treatment; cutting or removing any hard or soft tissue;
prescribing medications; taking teeth or jaw impressions ; or placing or
adjusting final restorations, capping materials, or cement bases.
DPH REGULATIONS
HB5140 File No. 739

HB5140 / File No. 739 10

The bill requires DPH to adopt regulations on dental hygienists
providing services in patients’ homes, which must at least:
1. define eligible patients;
2. require that each patient have a documented, comprehensive oral
health care plan that was made before treatment;
3. establish emergency protocols for managing medical or dental
complications; and
4. set standards for infection control, equipment, and safety and
any others it decides are needed for patient and provider safety
and continuity of care.
BACKGROUND
Dental Hygienist Scope of Practice
By law, dental hygienists may provide educational, preventative, and
therapeutic services. These services include completing a prophylaxis;
removing calcium deposits, accretions, and stains; applying pit and
fissure sealants and topical solutions to expose d parts of teeth; and
dental hygiene exams, including hygiene assessments, treatment plans,
and charting oral conditions. Under certain circumstances, they may
also take alginate impressions of teeth and administer local anesthesia.
Related Bill
sHB 5303 (File 96), favorably reported by the Aging Committee,
similarly allows dental hygienists to provide services in private
residences.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Aging Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 13 Nay 1 (03/05/2026)