Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024
(a) Any dental
assistant who is 18 years of age or older shall be considered qualified in a
specific area if he or she has successfully completed an expanded duty course,
or successfully challenged an examination in same, or both, as stated in Den
302.06(a) through (ac). A course or exam given by an entity other than the
board itself shall include the passing grade or other standard for successful
completion of said course or exam set by the entity giving said course or exam.
Course records, pursuant to
Den
403.06, and a certificate of course completion shall
be retained by the course participant and provided to the board upon request by
the board. Traditional dental assistants, before qualifying in any other area
addressed in Den 302.06, shall have taken and passed an introduction to dental
assisting course and qualify for infection control in the dental office as
stated in Den 302.06(b)(1)c.
(b)
Traditional dental assistants shall qualify in infection control in the dental
office after successfully completing a course in the topic, as follows:
(1) The expanded duty course shall:
a. Be offered by a course provider as defined
in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
b. Be a minimum of 4 hours;
c. Pursuant to RSA 317-A:17 (g), II, follow
the current Centers for Disease Control "Infection Control Recommendations for
the Dental Office and the Dental Laboratory"; and
d. Require the passing of a written exam
administered by the continuing education provider; and
(2) Written evidence certifying that the
infection control course has been successfully completed shall be signed by the
course provider and given to the dental assistant.
(c) Any dental assistant may petition the
board for approval of an expanded duty course or equivalent training course.
The petition shall include all information that the petitioner wishes the board
to consider in evaluating the proposed course, such as the entity giving the
course, an outline of the topics to be covered, the number of hours of lectures
and hours of practical experience and the textbooks to be used. The board
shall, within 60 days of receipt of such petition, send written notice of
approval or a written request for further information from the
petitioner.
(d) No dental assistant
shall be considered qualified prior to the date that he or she is officially
informed by the course or examination provider that he or she has successfully
completed an expanded duty course approved by the board.
(e) A traditional dental assistant shall have
200 hours of experience in clinical dental assisting in order to qualify to
take a course in introduction to dental assisting, which course shall be a
prerequisite to any other expanded duty course described in this
section.
(f) Any introduction to
dental assisting course shall:
(1) Be offered
by a course provider as defined in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Be a minimum of 6 hours;
(3) Contain at least the following subjects:
a. The taking of medical and dental
histories;
b. Obtaining and reading
vital signs;
c. Oral and dental
anatomy;
d. Charting existing
restorations and teeth;
e.
Inspection of the oral cavity; and
f. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA);
(4) Require the passing of a written
examination administered by the continuing education provider; and
(5) Provide to the dental assistant written
evidence certifying that the course has been successfully completed, which is
signed by the course provider.
(g) Any dental assistant who successfully
completes the introduction to dental assisting course shall be qualified to
perform those duties set forth in
Den 401.01 and
Den
401.02.
(h) Any traditional dental assistant shall
have 200 hours of experience in clinical dental assisting in order to qualify
to take a radiology course.
(i) Any
dental assistant shall be considered qualified in dental radiology after
successfully completing an expanded duty course in dental radiology which:
(1) Is offered by a continuing education
provider as specified in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 8 lecture hours, which
may be taken online, and 8 laboratory hours;
(3) Includes at least the following:
a. Asepsis, radiation safety;
b. Parallel and bi-secting
techniques;
c. Full mouth
projections, panoramic projections, projections, and extra-oral
projections;
d. Dark room
procedures;
e. Radiographic
landmarks, interpretation, and mounting;
f. Passing the radiology written examination
of the Dental Assisting National Board, provided that dental assistants who
have been practicing since before December 9, 1998 shall be exempt from taking
and passing the DANB exam; and
g.
Passing of a written exam administered by the continuing education provider;
and
(4) Provides to the
dental assistant written evidence certifying that the course has been
successfully completed and which is signed by the course
provider.
(j) The duty of
dental radiology shall be performed only under the direct supervision of a
licensed dentist.
(k) Any
traditional dental assistant shall have 200 hours of experience in clinical
dental assisting in order to qualify to take a course in provision crown and
bridge restorations.
(l) Any dental
assistant shall be considered qualified in provisional crown and bridge
restorations after successfully completing an expanded duty course in
provisional crown and bridge restorations which:
(1) Is offered by a continuing education
provider as defined in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 8 hours;
(3) Includes at least the following:
a. Provisional restoration anatomy;
b. Occlusal requirements;
c. Cementation; and
d. Passing of a written exam administered by
the continuing education provider; and
(4) Provides to the dental assistant written
evidence certifying that the course has been successfully completed and which
is signed by the course provider.
(m) The duty of provisional crown and bridge
restorations shall be performed with the following conditions:
(1) A dental assistant qualified in
provisional crown and bridge restorations shall perform this service only under
the direct supervision of a licensed dentist;
(2) The provisional restoration may be
fabricated intraorally, however all occlusal adjustments and modifications
shall be completed extraorally; and
(3) The completed provisional restoration
shall be examined by the dentist prior to cementation by a qualified dental
assistant.
(n) Any
traditional dental assistant shall have at least 200 hours of experience in
clinical dental assisting in order to qualify to take a course in
orthodontics.
(o) Any traditional
dental assistant shall be considered qualified in orthodontic duties after
successfully completing an expanded duty course in orthodontic duties which:
(1) Is offered by a continuing education
provider as defined in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 8 hours;
(3) Includes at least the following:
a. Placement and removal of orthodontic
separators;
b. Preparation of teeth
for bonding of brackets;
c. Removal
of orthodontic bands or brackets;
d. Trial fitting of orthodontic
bands;
e. Using hand instruments to
remove excess cement from bands on the coronal surfaces of the teeth;
f. Trial fitting of head gear;
g. Simple emergency adjustment of orthodontic
appliances to relieve pain;
h.
Taking impressions for orthodontic appliances;
i. Attachment or tying in and removal of
orthodontic wires;
j. Bending arch
wires; and
k. Passing of a written
exam administered by the continuing education provider; and
(4) Provides to the dental assistant written
evidence certifying that the course has been successfully completed and which
is signed by the course provider.
(p) The duty of orthodontics shall only be
performed under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
(q) Any traditional dental assistant shall
have at 400 hours of experience in clinical dental assisting in order to
qualify to take a sealants course.
(r) Any traditional dental assistant shall be
considered qualified in dental sealants after successfully completing an
expanded duty course in dental sealants which:
(1) Is offered by a continuing education
provider as specified in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 8 hours;
(3) Includes at least the following:
a. Use of chemical and light cured
sealants;
b. Proper techniques of
applying sealants;
c. Isolation
techniques;
d. Practice in applying
sealants in a laboratory setting;
e. Application of sealants on an actual
patient in a clinical setting; and
f. Passing an exam administered by the
continuing education provider; and
(4) Provides to the dental assistant written
evidence certifying that the course has been successfully completed and which
is signed by the course provider.
(s) The duty of dental sealants shall only be
performed under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
(t) Traditional dental assistants shall have
experience consisting of at least 400 hours in clinical dental assisting in
order to qualify to take a course in coronal polishing.
(u) Any dental assistant other than a
graduate dental assistant shall be considered qualified in coronal polishing
after meeting the eligibility requirements and successfully completing an
expanded duty course in coronal polishing which:
(1) Is offered by a continuing education
provider as set forth in
Den
403.07(a);
(2) Is a minimum of 8 hours; and
(3) Includes at least the following subjects:
a. Handpiece maintenance and
sterilization;
b. Polishing
agents;
c. Polishing
techniques;
d. Infection
control;
e. Medical and dental
history indications and contraindications;
f. Hands-on polishing in a clinical setting;
and
g. Passing of a written
examination administered by the continuing education provider; and
(4) Provides to the dental
assistant written evidence certifying that the course has been successfully
completed and which is signed by the course provider.
(v) The duty of coronal polishing shall be
performed with the following conditions:
(1)
Coronal polishing by dental assistants shall be accomplished by a combination
of slow speed handpiece, not to exceed 10,000 rpm, and appropriate polishing
agents with a rubber cup or bristle brush;
(2) Coronal polishing shall be accomplished
by dental assistants only after a dentist or dental hygienist has determined
that the teeth are free of calculus;
(3) A dental assistant qualified in coronal
polishing shall perform this service only under the direct supervision of a
licensed dentist or dental hygienist; and
(4) Coronal polishing shall in no way be
represented as a prophylaxis unless a dentist or dental hygienist has
determined the teeth are free of calculus immediately prior to the
polishing.
(w) Any
traditional dental assistant shall have 400 hours of experience in clinical
dental assisting prior to taking an expanded duty course in monitoring the
administration of nitrous oxide anesthesia.
(x) Any traditional dental assistant shall be
considered qualified to monitor the administration of nitrous oxide
(N2O) to patients after successfully completing an
expanded duty course in monitoring the administration of nitrous oxide which:
(1) Is offered by a course provider as
defined in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 6 hours;
(3) Includes at least the following:
a. Aspects of pain and anxiety;
b. Anatomy and physiology of
respiration;
c. Stages of drug
induced central nervous system depression;
d. Pharmacology and physiological effects of
nitrous oxide;
e. Advantages and
disadvantages of inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide;
f. Medical assessment of patient prior to
using nitrous oxide; and
g. Proper
administration of nitrous oxide to include:
1. Description and use of inhalation
equipment;
2. Patient
monitoring;
3. Possible reactions
of patients under nitrous oxide;
4.
Hazards of nitrous oxide for patients and operator; and
5. Management of complications;
(4) Requires the passing
of a written examination administered by the continuing education provider;
and
(5) Provides to the dental
assistant written evidence certifying that the course has been successfully
completed and which is signed by the course provider.
(y) If qualification in monitoring the
administration of nitrous oxide is determined, the duty shall be performed with
the following conditions:
(1) A dental
assistant qualified in the monitoring of nitrous oxide shall monitor nitrous
oxide only under the direct supervision of a dentist;
(2) A dental assistant qualified to monitor
the administration of nitrous oxide shall monitor only after a dentist has
initiated the administration and brought the patient to the intended level of
nitrous oxide inhalation sedation; and
(3) A dental assistant qualified to monitor
the administration of nitrous oxide shall be currently certified in BHLS-HCP;
and
(4) A dental assistant who has
qualified to monitor nitrous oxide in another jurisdiction shall qualify for
endorsement by the board to perform that function by presenting written
documentation of training equivalent to (x) above and a letter from a
supervising dentist attesting to the assistant's experience monitoring nitrous
oxide within the previous 2 years.
(z) Any traditional dental assistant shall
have at least 400 hours in clinical dental assisting in order to qualify to
take a course in office whitening.
(aa) A dental assistant shall be qualified to
perform in-office tooth whitening after successfully completing an expanded
duty course in in-office tooth whitening which:
(1) Is offered by a course provider as
defined in
Den
403.07(a)(1);
(2) Is a minimum of 4 hours;
(3) Includes at least the following;
a. An overview of prescription and
non-prescription whitening systems;
b. Mechanisms of action;
c. Treatment methods;
d. Safety considerations, including:
1. Contraindications; and
2. Side effects; and
e. Passing of a written examination
administered by the continuing education provider; and
(4) Provides to the dental assistant written
evidence certifying that the course has been successfully completed and which
is signed by the course provider.
(ab) The duty of in-office tooth whitening
shall only be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed
dentist.
The amended version of this part by
New
Hampshire Register Volume 42, Number 41, eff.
9/14/2022 is not yet
available.
