Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Cognitive
Objectives. Before becoming registered to perform expanded duty dental
assistant functions, dental assistants should be tested on the reasons for
doing these procedures, the criteria for correct performance of these
procedures, and the effects of improper performance of these procedures. The
dental assistant shall be familiar with the state Dental Practice Act and the
rules and regulations governing dental auxiliaries. This testing shall be
included within at least 30 hours of instruction.
B. The following is a model outline for the
expanded duty dental assistant course. The hours are to be allocated by the
instructor in accordance with current law:
1.
introduction: What is an expanded duty dental assistant?;
2. jurisprudence: legal duties of
auxiliaries; limitation of auxiliary services; responsibility of dentists for
all service provided under dentist's supervision; responsibility of auxiliaries
to perform only those functions that are legally delegated; penalties for
violation of Dental Practice Act; and mechanism to report to the board
violations of dentists and/or auxiliaries;
3. infection control and prevention of
disease transmission; dental assistants' responsibilities in upholding
universal barrier techniques; and OSHA rules;
4. handling dental emergencies;
5. charting;
6. oral anatomy; morphology of the teeth; and
medical and dental history for the dentist's review (vital signs, drug
evaluation, medical laboratory reports, ascertaining the patient's chief dental
problem);
7. overview of dental
materials: cavity liners, temporary crown materials, periodontal dressings,
post-surgical packs and acid-etch materials;
8. coronal polishing: rationale, materials,
techniques and contraindications;
9. lab on coronal polishing and performance
evaluation; half of the lab period shall be spent practicing on typodonts while
the second half shall be spent practicing on partners;
10. lecture on use of gingival retraction
cords; types of cords placement; and removal of cords;
11. lab on placement and removal of
retraction cords; and performance evaluation-lab period shall be practicing on
mannequins;
12. lab on placement of
cavity liners; placement of temporary restorations; fabrications and placement
of temporary crowns; placement of periodontal dressings; placement of
post-surgical packs; performance of acid-etch techniques; placement and removal
of wedges and matrices; and performance evaluation;
13. lecture on monitoring nitrous
oxide/oxygen (N20/02)
sedation;
14. Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation Course "C," Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers as
defined by the American Heart Association or the Red Cross Professional Rescue
Course; this course may count for three hours of instruction provided this
course has been successfully completed within six months prior to
certification;
15. clinical exam
instructions;
16. clinical and
written exams;
17. lecture on the
placement of pit and fissure sealants;
18. lab on placement of pit and fissure
sealants; performance evaluation lab shall be practicing on
typodonts.
C. All
applicants for expanded duty dental assistant certificate confirmation must
successfully complete a course in X-ray function and safety approved by the
Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Any dental assistant who may have been
grandfathered in 1984 with the amendment to
R.S.
37:792 must still take a radiology course as
described herein in order to seek the certificate confirmation as an expanded
duty dental assistant.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with R. S. 37:760(8).
