Current through Register Vol. 18, September 20, 2024
(1)
Dental auxiliaries as defined in
37-4-408(1), MCA,
may work under direct supervision if the auxiliary:
(a) was instructed and qualified to perform
in a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental
Accreditation or its successor; or
(b) was instructed and trained by a licensed
dentist.
(2) A dental
auxiliary under direct supervision may perform the following dental procedures
including, but not limited to:
(a) making
radiographic exposures as prescribed by the supervising dentist only if the
auxiliary:
(i) has graduated from an
accredited program of dental assisting, dental hygiene, or dentistry accredited
by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor; or
(ii) has been certified in dental radiology
as a result of military experience; or
(iii) has successfully completed a
board-approved radiology written examination;
(b) initiating, adjusting, and monitoring
nitrous oxide flow for a patient who has been prescribed and administered
nitrous oxide by a licensed dentist;
(c) taking impressions for study or working
casts;
(d) removing sutures and
dressings;
(e) applying topical
anesthetic agents;
(f) providing
oral health instructions;
(g)
applying topical fluoride agents;
(h) removing excess cement from coronal
surfaces;
(i) placing and removing
rubber dams;
(j) placing and
removing matrices;
(k) collecting
patient data;
(l) polishing amalgam
restorations;
(m) placing and
removing temporary restoration with hand instruments only;
(n) placing pit and fissure
sealants;
(o) digital capture of
dental images;
(p) coronal
polishing; and
(q) sodium
bicarbonate air polishing.
(3) Dental auxiliaries performing any
intraoral procedure must be under the direct supervision of a licensed
dentist.
(4) A certified dental
assistant as defined in
37-4-408(2), MCA,
under general supervision may:
(a) place pit
and fissure sealants following an in-person comprehensive oral examination or
periodic examination within the preceding 30 days;
(b) perform other intraoral procedures not
requiring direct supervision; and
(c) expose radiographs.
(5) A certified dental assistant may work
under general supervision but may not perform the following tasks unless under
direct supervision:
(a) initiating, adjusting,
and monitoring nitrous oxide flow for a patient who has been prescribed and
administered nitrous oxide;
(b)
applying silver diamine fluoride agents;
(c) placing and removing rubber
dams;
(d) placing and removing
matrices;
(e) polishing amalgam
restorations; and
(f) applying
topical anesthetic agents.
(6) In addition to the prohibitions in
37-4-401, MCA, no dentist shall
allow any dental auxiliary, including certified dental assistants, to perform
the following:
(a) administering or
dispensing any drug, without the prior authorization of the supervising
dentist;
(b) administering
intravenous and intramuscular injections or local anesthetic;
(c) placing, carving, or condensing any
permanent restorations;
(d) taking
final impressions of the involved arch for crowns, bridges, implant prosthesis,
partial dentures, or complete dentures;
(e) bonding or cementing any fixed
prosthesis, including veneers, except for provisionals;
(f) bonding or cementing orthodontic brackets
or orthodontic appliances that would provide activation upon
cementation;
(g) placing sulcular
medicinal or therapeutic materials;
(h) periodontal probing; or
(i) metal based air polishing.
(7) The assignment of tasks and
procedures to dental auxiliaries, including certified dental assistants, shall
not relieve the dentist from liability for all treatment rendered the
patient.
(8) A dentist licensed to
use or direct the use of an x-ray producing device must ensure that the
radiation source under the dentist's control is used only by individuals
competent to use it. Proof of current certification must be readily available
for review by the public or the board upon request.
AUTH:
37-4-205,
37-4-408, MCA; IMP:
37-4-408,
MCA
