Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
A. ALL FUNCTIONS DELEGATED TO A DENTAL
ASSISTANT MUST BE PERFORMED UNDER PERSONAL SUPERVISION, PERSONAL SUPERVISION
MEANS:
1. The Dentist is in the office or
treatment facility.
2. The Dentist
has personally diagnosed the condition To be treated;
3. The Dentist has personally authorized the
procedures.
4. The Dentist remains
in the office or treatment facility while The procedures are being performed;
and
5. The Dentist evaluates the
performance of the Dental Assistant before the dismissal of the patient.
The licensed, supervising Dentist is responsible for determining
the appropriateness of delegation of any specific function based upon knowledge
of the skills of the assistant, the needs of the patient, the requirements of
the task and whether proof of competence is required.
The Dentist is ultimately responsible for patient care. Nothing
contained in the authority given the Dentist by this rule to delegate the
performance of certain procedure shall in any way relieve the supervising
Dentist from the liability to the patient for negligent performance by a Dental
Assistant.
B.
DEFINITIONS:
1.
Dental Assistant: A staff member of a duly-licensed
Dentist who is involved in direct patient care to include a Certified Dental
Assistant or a Registered Dental Assistant.
2.
Registered Dental
Assistant: A Dental Assistant who has obtained a permit(s) from
the Board to perform any or all of the following expanded duties:
a) Administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen
analgesia
b) Operation of dental
radiographic equipment
c) Coronal
polishing
3.
Certified Dental Assistant: A Dental Assistant who is
currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board.
C.
TASKS AUTHORIZED TO BE
PERFORMED BY DENTAL ASSISTANTS
With the exceptions listed below, a Dental Assistant may perform
any dental task or procedure assigned to the assistant by the supervising
Dentist that does not require the professional skills of a licensed Dentist
or licensed dental hygienist , but only under the
personal supervision of a licensed Dentist on the premises. These duties may
only be delegated when the effect of the procedure assigned is
reversible.
D.
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
The responsibility for diagnosis, treatment planning, or the
prescription of medications in the practice of Dentistry shall remain with a
licensed Dentist and may not be assigned or delegated to a Dental Assistant. No
dental procedure that will contribute to or result in an irreversible
alteration of the oral anatomy may be performed by anyone other than a licensed
Dentist. The following activities are prohibited for dental assistants:
1. Diagnosis and treatment
planning.
2.
Scaling, Root, Planing
and curretage.
3. Surgical or
cutting procedures on hard or soft tissue.
4. Prescription, injection, inhalation, and
parenteral administration of drugs (except when the Dental Assistant obtains a
permit to do the same from the Board)
5. Placement, seating or removal of any final
or permanent restorations.
6.
Final placement of orthodontic
brackets
7. Any procedure that contributes to or
results in irreversible alteration of the oral anatomy.
8. Performance of any of the following
expanded duties without a permit:
a)
Administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia
b) Operation of dental radiographic
equipment
c) Coronal
polishing
9. Those
functions relegated to a dental hygienist and stated in Regulation XI A.2a and
b(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
E.
REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT EXPANDED FUNCTION PERMITS
It is the responsibility of the Dental Assistant to provide the
Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners with proof of competence in the
desired expanded function prior to receiving a permit from the Board.
1. A Dental Assistant may induce and monitor
nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia After successful completion of a course approved
by the Board and the Payment of a designated fee. At this time a permit will be
issued.
2. A Dental Assistant may
operate dental radiographic equipment after successful completion of an
educational course as approved by the Board and submits proof of competency by
passing an examination and the payment of a designated fee. At this time, a
permit will be issued.
3. A Dental
Assistant may perform coronal polishing after successful completion of
educational requirements as approved by the Board and submits proof of
competency by passing such examination as the Board requires, and the payment
of a designated fee. At this time, a permit will be issued.
4. A Certified Dental Assistant, or an
assistant who is a graduate of a school which is accredited or provisionally
accredited by the Council on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
Association, need only submit proof of graduation or certification to the Board
along with the designated fee and a permit will be issued for any expanded duty
requested.
After receipt of one or more of the expanded function permits,
the Dental Assistant will then be considered a Registered Dental Assistant with
the Board. Those permits must be on display within the dental office or
treatment facility.
F.
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PERMIT
FOR ADMINISTRATION OF NITROUS OXIDE
A Dental Assistant desiring to obtain an expanded duty permit for
nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia from the Board must do the following:
1. Successfully complete a nitrous oxide
administration and monitoring course As approved by the Board.
2. Submit a copy of the certificate of
completion to the Board along with any designated fee.
G.
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PERMIT
FOR RADIOGRAPHY AND/OR CORONAL POLISHING:
A Dental Assistant desiring to obtain an expanded duty permit for
radiography and/or coronal polishing from the Board must do the
following:
1. Request the educational
packet from the Board for the desired permit and pay the Appropriate
fee.
2. Successfully complete the
examination or clinical checklist administered by the supervising Dentist as
provided by the Board, and return the required materials to the Board.
H.
Said
Permits must be renewed yearly on Forms as provided by the Board pursuant to
Ark. Code Ann
17-82-405.
