Art.1. This Law aims to fix the qualification of dental hygienists, and therefore, to prevent dental diseases and elevate oral hygiene.
Art.2. In this Law, "dental hygienist" shall mean one who has been licensed by a prefectural governor and practices the following deeds as procedure under the direct instruction of a dentist (including a medical practitioner who may practise dental profession):
(1) Scaling with mechanical method of the adhesion and the deposition on the exposed surface of the teeth and under the gingival margin of the normal gums;
(2) Application of the medicine to the teeth surface and mucus membrane of the oral cavities.
Art.3. One who wants to practise as a dental hygienist must pass the dental hygienist examination (to be called the examination hereinafter) and receive the dental hygienist license (to be called the licence hereinafter) from a prefectural governor.
Art.4. The license shall not be given to those who are deaf, dumb or blind.
Art.5. The license may not be given to those who come under one of the following items:
(1) Those who have been sentenced to more than monetary penalty;
(2) Those who have conducted crime or wrong deed concerning the practice of the dental hygienist, except those who come under the preceding item;
(3) Those who are of very loose character;
(4) The mental patients, addicts of narcotic or marihuana or those who have infectious diseases.
Art.6. A dental hygienist list shall be prepared in a prefectural office and the matters concerning the license shall be registered on it.
Art.7. The license shall be finished by the registration on the dental hygienist list.
When a prefectural governor granted the license, he shall register it on the dental hygienist list, and shall deliver him the certificate of dental hygienist license (to be called the certificate hereinafter).
A dental hygienist shall report his name, address (in case of one engaged in profession, the same place in addition and other matters provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, as of Dec.31 of every year, to the governor of the prefecture of his place of residence, by Jan.15 of the next year.
Art.8. In case a dental hygienist comes under Art.4 the prefectural governor shall cancel his license.
In case a dental hygienist comes under one of the items of Art.5, or behaves in such a way as detrimental to the dignity of a dental hygienist, the prefectural governor may cancel his license or may order suspension of his work for a fixed period.
The re-license may be given to one who has been dealt with by cancellation under the preceding paragraph, when the disease is cured, or when he shows sincere repentance. In this case, the provision of Art.7, par.1 or par.2 shall apply necessary modifications.
Such steps as provided for by par.1 or par.2 shall not be taken until after a hearing has been held before a public official or an employee designated for such purpose by the prefectural governor. In this case, the reasonable advance notice shall be made to the licenses. The notice shall state the date and place of hearing, and state further the ground or grounds consituting the charge against the licensee.
The licensee shall be heard in his defense either in person or by counsel, and may produce witnesses to testify in his behalf.
The person conducting the hearing shall take and preserve a record of hearing, and shall make a written report of his finding and recommendation to the prefectural governor for decision.
Art.9. Except the provisions of this Law, matters concerning application of license, registration, correction and erasing of the dental hygienist list, deliveration, re-writing re-deliveration and restoration of the certificate and report of the residence, shall be fixed by Ministerial Ordinance.
Art.10. The examination shall be given on the necessary knowledge and technical ability as a dental hygienist.
Art.11. The examination shall be held by the Minister of Welfare, once a year at least.
The Minister of Welfare may entrust with the whole or a part of the business concerning the examination to prefectural governors.
The Minister of Welfare shall have members of National Dentists, Examination Committee handle matters on making up questions, marking answers and any other business necessary for execution of examination, except for those matters entrusted to prefectural governors according to the preceding paragraph.
Art.12. Only those who come under one of the following items shall be allowed to take the examination:
(1) The graduates from the dental hygienist school authorized by the Minister of Education;
(2) The graduate from the dental hygienist training school authorized by the Minister of Welfare;
(3) Those who graduated from a foreign dental hygienist school or who received the license of dental hygienists in foreign countries, and are judged by the Minister of Welfare to be equivalent to those under the preceding two items in the knowledge and technical ability.
Art.13. Those who are not the dental hygienist shall not practise what is stated under Art.2. However, those who practise according to the provisions of the Dentist Law (Law No.202 of 1948) shall be exempted from this provisions.
Art.14. Except the provisions of this Law, necessary matters concerning the authorization of schools or training schools, and necessary matters concerning the subjects of the examination, procedure of application to the examination and certificate of passing examination shall be fixed by Ministerial Ordinance.
Art.15. One who has violated the provision of Art.13 shall be liable to penal servitude not more than one year or a fine not more than 10,000 Yen.
Art.16. A dental hygienist who has practised his work during the period of suspension of work, shall be liable to penal servitude not more than 6 months or a fine not more than 5,000 Yen.
Art.17. One who has violated the provision of Art.7, par.3 shall be liable to a fine not more than 5,000 Yen.