Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 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.
5. The Dentist evaluates
the performance of the Dental Assistant before the dismissal of the patient.
The supervising licensed 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 procedures 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
d.
Monitoring
of patients undergoing deep sedation or general anesthesia
Certified Dental Assistant: A Dental Assistant who is currently
certified by the Dental Assistant 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 by the supervising dentist to the
assistant 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
curettage
3. Surgical or cutting
procedures on hard or soft tissue.
4. Prescription, injection, inhalation, and
parenteral administration of drugs (except where permitted by 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:
Administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia Operation of
dental radiographic equipment Coronal polishing
9. Those functions relegated to a dental
hygienist and stated in Regulation XI A.
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
education 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
education 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 Dental Assistant may monitor
patients who are under deep sedation or general anesthesia only in offices
where the dentists is permitted to perform those services, 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 that time, a permit will be
issued.
4.5 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 except Sedation
Monitoring.
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.
3.
Successfully complete a
Jurisprudence examination covering the Dental Practice Act and rules of the
Board.
4.
Show proof of current certificotion in healthcare provider level of
CPR,
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.
3. Successfully complete a
jurisprudence examination covering the Dental Practice Act and rules of the
Board.
4. Show proof of healthcare
provider level of CPR.
H.
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING
PERMIT FOR SEDATION MONITORING
A Dental Assistant desiring to obtain an expanded
duty permit for sedation monitoring from the Board must do the
following:
1.
Hold a current permit for nitrous oxide
administration.
2.
Hold and show proof of a current certification in health care
provider level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
3.
Be a Certified Dental
Assistant Registered Dental Assistant Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical
Nurse
4.
Submit proof of successful completion of the American Association
of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Anesthesia Assistant's training program or a
Board approved equivalent course within the two year period immediately
previous to submitting an application to be a Sedation
Assistant.
5.
Successfully complete a jurisprudence examination covering the
Dental Practice Act and rules of the Board.
6.
Exemptions: Licensed
physicians with a specialty in anesthesiology and Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetists are exempt from the educational and permit requirements listed in
this section. Other licensed healthcare providers, who can show proof of
successful completion of a course which meets or exceeds those listed in this
reputation, may obtain an exemption from the Board on a case by case
basis.
I.
SAID PERMITS MUST BE RENEWED ON FORMS AS PROVIDED BY THE
BOARD PURSUANT TO ARK. CODE ANN
17-82-405.
As stated in that section of the Code, the
procedures for registration and penalties for failure to register permits of
dentists as stated in
17-82-310
through
17-82-314
will apply to the registration of permits by dental
assistants.
J. A
Registered Dental Assistant must provide the Board proof of completing 2 hours
of Continuing Education each 2-year reporting period on the subject of
infection control in order to renew a permit to perform expanded duties. The
Registered Dental Assistant must report the Continuing Education hours in the
manner set forth in Article XIV of the Board.
Separated from Article XI and approved 1/12/01; amended 8/23/02
and 4/29/05.
