Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
Notwithstanding any other rule provision to the contrary, a
dentist may delegate remedial intraoral restorative functions to a Dental
Assistant in strict compliance with the provisions of this rule. All functions
delegated under this rule shall be performed under direct supervision.
(1) Delegable Restorative Functions: After a
dentist has prepared a tooth, a dentist may delegate to a dental assistant, who
has met the mandatory training requirements of this rule, the task of placing,
packing and contouring amalgam and composite restorations and the fitting and
contouring of stainless-steel crowns (tasks). However, a dental assistant shall
not permanently cement stainless steel crowns.
(a) The tasks shall only be performed using a
slow speed handpiece and hand instruments.
(b) The delegating dentist shall not
supervise more than four (4) dental hygienists or dental assistants in
combination who are simultaneously performing the tasks pursuant to this rule
or a rule authorizing the same or similar delegable tasks for dental
hygienists.
(c) The delegating
dentist shall ensure that the patient's dental chart is annotated to reflect
the initials of the dental assistant who performed the tasks.
(d) The delegating dentist shall also ensure
that the patient's dental chart reflects that the final restoration was
verified by the delegating dentist and the result of the verification shall
also be documented.
(2)
Mandatory Training Course Prerequisites: To be eligible to be admitted into the
mandatory training course required in subsection (3), a dental assistant
(Candidate) shall meet the following conditions:
(a) The Candidate shall be at least 18 years
of age.
(b) The Candidate shall be
a high school graduate or have a High School Equivalency Certificate.
(c) The Candidate shall have a current Basic
Life Support for Healthcare Provider certificate.
(d) The Candidate shall be a graduate of a
dental assisting program that is accredited by a dental accrediting entity
recognized by the United States Department of Education or shall have received
formal training in expanded duties pursuant to paragraph
64B5-16.002(1)(b),
F.A.C. The Candidate shall have never had a dental assisting license suspended
or revoked in any jurisdiction.
(e)
Within 24 months prior to being admitted to the mandatory training course in
subsection (3), the Candidate must have documented proof of 2, 400 hours of
clinical work experience in either a dental office or as an educator of dental
assisting.
(f) All students must
have a delegating dentist to enroll in the program. The commitment of the
delegating dentist is to supervise and evaluate a portion of their clinical
requirements and submit a report to the CE provider.
(g) The delegating dentist must attend a
two-hour online interactive video conference mandatory training on the Laws and
Rules of Remediable Restorative Functions, and calibration of the clinical
requirements and procedures.
(3) Mandatory Training Course: The mandatory
training course shall be offered by a dental or dental hygiene school or
program that is accredited by a dental accrediting entity recognized by the
United States Department of Education. The training course must be specifically
designed and implemented to comply with the provisions of this rule. The
training program shall ensure that the candidate meets all the qualifications
in subsection (2) before accepting the candidate into the training program. At
a minimum, the training shall include and contain the following:
(a) 105 clock hours including a minimum of 10
hours dedicated to preclinical didactic hours, and a clinical portion
consisting of a minimum 70 hours dedicated to simulated lab and a minimum of 25
hours dedicated to live patients, divided in 12 clinical hours with the
delegating dentist, and 13 clinical hours at the course provider institution.
The preclinical didactic hours, may be offered online. At the completion of the
preclinical didactic hours, the course shall require the passing of an initial
written examination prior to the clinical portion of the training. A passing
score shall require a score of 75 percent or above.
(b) A clinical and lab session for Amalgam
Restorations Class I, II, and V, which shall include live patients.
(c) A clinical and lab session for Composite
Restorations Class I, II, III, and V, which shall include live
patients.
(d) A lab case-based
clinical scenario session to size, fit and contour, but not permanently cement,
stainless steel crowns.
(e) The
training program shall verify competency by requiring an exit or final written
examination and clinical examination that includes live patients. The written
portion of the examination shall include a section covering the Laws and Rules
of Dentistry in Florida. A passing score shall require a 75 percent or above on
both the written and clinical examination and the examinations shall not be
weighted to achieve an overall score of 75 percent or better. The clock hours
dedicated to the exit or final written and clinical examination shall not count
towards the required minimum 105 total clock hours required by the
course.
(f) Upon the successful
completion of the training course, a certificate of successful completion of
the Restorative Function Course shall be issued.
(4) Documentation of Training: A Dentist who
delegates tasks pursuant to this rule shall ensure that a copy of the
Restorative Function Course training certificate is immediately available at
the location where tasks are delegated, and the certificate shall be produced
by the dentist when requested by the Board Office or any authorized
inspector.
(5) Responsibility: The
delegating and supervising dentist shall remain fully responsible for all
delegated tasks and for ensuring that the dental assistant meets the training
requirements of this rule.
(6) This
rule shall be reviewed, and if necessary, repealed, modified, or renewed
through the rulemaking process five years from the effective
date.
Rulemaking Authority
456.013,
466.024 FS. Law Implemented
456.013,
466.024,
466.024(1)
FS.
New 6-23-19, Amended
5-18-23.
