(1) To meet the requirements of an expanded
duty dental assistant, a dental assistant must have a high school diploma, or
the equivalent thereof, proof of current CPR certification and a certificate
documenting that he or she has successfully completed the course pertaining to
the specific duties outlined in that certificate. Only those expanded duties,
which are listed on the certificate(s), may be performed by an expanded duty
dental assistant. An expanded duty dental assistant certificate may be issued
by an accredited dental assisting program, a dental hygiene school, a dental
school or a professional association recognized and approved by the Georgia
Board of Dentistry to a candidate who has successfully completed the required
certificate courses (each of which must be a minimum of four hours) from an
accredited dental assisting program, a dental hygiene school, a dental school
or professional association recognized and approved by the Georgia Board of
Dentistry and met all other requirements of an expanded duty assistant; and
completed an examination demonstrating competency in specific duties that is
administered by a licensed dentist on behalf of the accredited dental assistant
program, dental hygiene school, dental school or professional association
recognized and approved by the Georgia Board of Dentistry.
(2) Eligibility for taking said courses
requires that the candidate meet at least one of the following criteria:
(a) Possess current certification that the
candidate is a Certified Dental Assistant.
(b) Be a graduate of a one (1) year
accredited dental assisting program or a dental assisting program approved by
the Board or be eligible for graduation.
(c) Have been employed as a chair side
assistant by a licensed dentist for a continuous six (6) month period within
the previous three (3) years. (Note: An expanded duties certificate would be
issued to a candidate only upon proper proof of graduation.)
(3) The employer of the expanded
duty assistant shall have readily available in the dental office a copy of the
certificate(s) issued from the sponsor of the accredited course(s) of study to
the expanded duty dental assistant. The expanded duties specific to the
course(s) taken and in which [a] certificate(s) [has/have] been issued may be
delegated to dental assistants, who are performing their duties under the
direct supervision of a licensed dentist. The following expanded duties may be
delegated to those assistants meeting the educational requirements established
by Board Rule
150-9-.02(1) and
possessing a certificate(s) of the course(s) taken delineating the duties
specific to that course:
(a) Apply
desensitizing agents to root surfaces of teeth and prepared dentinal surfaces
of teeth prior to cementation of temporary restorations and crowns, bridges, or
inlays.
(b) Place cavity liner,
base or varnish over unexposed pulp.
(c) Intraoral fabrication of temporary crowns
and bridges. All such adjustments must be performed extraorally.
(d) Perform face bow transfer.
(e) Make impressions to be used to repair a
damaged prosthesis.
(f) Place
periodontal dressing.
(g)
Redressing (not initial placement of dressing) and removing dressing from
alveolar sockets in post-operative osteitis when the patient is uncomfortable
due to the loss of dressing from the alveolar socket in a diagnosed case of
post-operative osteitis.
(h) Make
impressions to be used to fabricate a night guard (bruxism or muscle relaxation
appliance). All adjustments must be performed extraorally. Final adjustment
must be made by the dentist.
(i)
Monitor the administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen; turn off nitrous
oxide/oxygen at the completion of the dental procedure and make adjustments to
the level of nitrous oxide/oxygen, but only following the specific instructions
of the dentist.
(j) Apply topical
anticariogenic agents.
(k) Apply
pit and fissure sealants, and primer and bonding agents to etched enamel or
dentin; and light-cure with a fiber-optic light source (not to include the use
of a laser device).
(l) Packing and
removing retraction cord, as prescribed by the dentist, so long as said cord is
used solely for restorative dental procedures.
(m) Changing of bleaching agent, following
initial applications by the dentist, during the bleaching process of vital and
non-vital teeth after the placement of a rubber dam; and applying the
fiber-optic light source of a curing light for activation of the bleach (not to
include the use of a laser device).
(n) Rebond brackets after a licensed dentist
has examined the affected tooth and surrounding gingiva and found no evidence
of pathology.
(o) Remove bonded
brackets with hand instruments only.
(p) Make impressions for passive orthodontic
appliances.
(q) Apply primer and
bonding agents to etched enamel or dentin; and light cure with fiber-optic
light source (not to include use of a laser device).
(r) Take and record vital signs.
(s) Size and fit stainless steel crowns on a
primary tooth only.
(t) Place
springs on wires.
(u) Place hooks
on brackets.
(v) Remove loose or
broken bonds.
(w) Remove ligature
and arch wires.
(x) Band, select,
and pre-size arch wires and place arch wires after final adjustment and
approval by the dentist.
(y)
Select, pre-fit, cement, cure, and remove ortho bands or brackets.
(z) Place and remove pre-treatment
separators.
(aa) Digital scans for
fabrication orthodontic appliances and models.
