Do dental hygienists have the authority to prescribe medications?

Dental hygienists do have some level of authority to prescribe medications, but this authority comes with specific limitations. In Oregon, for instance, dental hygienists can prescribe certain medications related to their scope of practice, such as local anesthetics, and they may also be able to prescribe preventive or therapeutic agents under certain conditions. However, they typically do not have the unrestricted ability to prescribe all medications or to prescribe independently without supervision or collaboration with a dentist. This nuanced authority acknowledges their role in patient care while ensuring that they operate within defined parameters to maintain patient safety and the collaborative nature of healthcare.