Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this
section, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
Clinical evaluation-An evaluation
system based on observation of a student's performance of clinical skills in
contexts that resemble those the student will be expected to encounter as an
expanded function dental assistant in a dental office.
Clinical instruction-A learning
experience in a clinical setting where the student performs expanded functions
on patients under the supervision of an instructor.
Clinical setting-
(i) A setting in which expanded function
dental assisting procedures are performed through direct patient
care.
(ii) The term does not
include a setting where procedures are performed on typodonts, manikins or by
other simulation methods.
Competencies-Statements describing the
necessary requirements to perform each procedure in §
33.205a (relating to practice as
an expanded function dental assistant) to the level required to meet the
acceptable and prevailing standard of care within the dental community in this
Commonwealth.
Competent-Having sufficient knowledge,
skill and expertise in performing expanded functions to meet and maintain the
acceptable and prevailing standard of care within the dental community in this
Commonwealth.
Laboratory or preclinical instruction-A
learning experience in which students perform expanded functions using study
models, typodonts, manikins or other simulation methods under the supervision
of the instructor.
(b)
Application. EFDA programs shall apply for Board approval on
forms to be provided by the Board and pay the fee in §
33.3 (relating to fees). The
application must include the following information:
(1) The EFDA program goals and
objectives.
(2) The criteria for
measuring competencies.
(3)
Documentation of accreditation as required under section 3(d.1) of the act
(63
P. S. §
122(d.1)).
(4) The curriculum vitae and job description
of the EFDA program director.
(5)
The curriculum vitae and job description of each faculty member assigned to the
EFDA program.
(6) A description of
the physical facilities and equipment used by the EFDA program for laboratory,
preclinical and clinical instruction.
(7) A copy of the formal written agreement
for the use of off-campus laboratory, preclinical or clinical facilities, if
applicable.
(8) Course outlines,
course descriptions or syllabi for the EFDA program curriculum.
(9) Other information related to the EFDA
program requested by the Board.
(c)
Requirements for
approval. The Board will approve EFDA programs that meet the following
requirements:
(1)
Planning and
assessment.
(i) The EFDA program
shall delineate its program goals and objectives for preparing individuals in
the expanded function dental assisting procedures in §
33.205a to a level consistent with
the acceptable and prevailing standard of care within the dental community in
this Commonwealth.
(ii) The EFDA
program shall develop specific criteria for measuring levels of competency for
the procedures in §
33.205a which reflect the
acceptable and prevailing standards and expectations of the dental community.
Students shall be evaluated by faculty according to these predetermined
criteria.
(iii) The EFDA program
shall record and retain student clinical evaluations as documentation of
student competency for a minimum of 5 years from the student's graduation or
completion of the EFDA program.
(2)
Institutional
accreditation. The EFDA program shall comply with the accreditation
requirements of section 3(d.1) of the act and §
33.102(c)
(relating to professional education).
(3)
Program director. The
EFDA program shall identify a program director who is responsible for and
involved in the following:
(i) Student
selection.
(ii) Curriculum
development and implementation.
(iii) Ongoing evaluation of program goals,
objectives, content and outcomes assessment.
(iv) Annual evaluations of faculty
performance including a discussion of the evaluation with each faculty
member.
(v) Evaluation of student
performance and maintenance of competency records for 5 years from graduation
or completion of the EFDA program.
(vi) Participation in planning for and
operation of facilities used in the EFDA program.
(vii) Evaluation of the clinical training and
supervision provided in affiliated offices and off-campus facilities, as
applicable.
(viii) Maintenance of
records related to the EFDA program, including instructional objectives and
course outcomes.
(ix) Instruction
of licensed dentists overseeing off-campus clinical procedures performed by
expanded function dental assistant students to ensure that the policies and
procedures of the off-campus facility are consistent with the philosophy and
objectives of the EFDA program.
(4)
Faculty. An EFDA program
faculty member shall either be a dentist who holds a current license in good
standing from the Board or meets the following criteria:
(i) Holds a current expanded function dental
assistant certificate issued by the Board.
(ii) Has a minimum of 2 years of practical
clinical experience as an expanded function dental assistant.
(iii) Holds National certification as a
certified dental assistant issued by the Dental Assisting National
Board.
(iv) Has completed a course
in education methodology of at least 3 credits or 45 hours offered by an
accredited institution of postsecondary education or complete a course in
educational methodology no later than 18 months after employment as a faculty
member.
(5)
Facilities and equipment.
(i) The EFDA program shall provide physical
facilities which provide space adequate to the size of its student body and
sufficient to enable it to meet its educational objectives for laboratory,
preclinical and clinical instruction.
(ii) The EFDA program shall provide equipment
suitable to meet the training objectives of the course or program and shall be
adequate in quantity and variety to provide the training specified in the
course curriculum or program content.
(iii) If the EFDA program contracts for
off-campus laboratory, preclinical or clinical instruction facilities, the
following conditions must be met:
(A) There
must be a formal written agreement between the EFDA program and the laboratory,
preclinical or clinical facility.
(B) In off-campus clinical facilities, a
licensed dentist shall oversee dental procedures performed on patients by EFDA
program students. The licensed dentist shall receive instruction to ensure that
the policies and procedures of the off-campus facility are consistent with the
philosophy and objectives of the EFDA program.
(iv) The standards in this paragraph are
equally applicable to extramural dental offices or clinic sites used for
clinical practice experiences, such as internships or externships.
(6)
Curriculum.
The curriculum of an EFDA program must consist of the following components:
(i)
General education. The
EFDA program shall include general education subjects as determined by the
educational institution with a goal of preparing the student to work and
communicate effectively with patients and other health care
professionals.
(ii)
Dental
sciences. The EFDA program shall include content in general dentistry
related to the expanded functions in section 11.10(a) of the act (63 P. S. §
130k(a)) and as set forth in
§ 33.205a, including courses covering the following topics:
(A) Dental anatomy.
(B) Occlusion.
(C) Rubber dams.
(D) Matrix and wedge.
(E) Cavity classification and preparation
design.
(F) Bases and
liners.
(G) Amalgam
restoration.
(H) Composite
restoration.
(I)
Sealants.
(J) Crown and bridge
provisional fabrication.
(K) Dental
law and ethics.
(L) Coronal
polishing.
(M) Fluoride treatments,
including fluoride varnish.
(N)
Taking impressions of teeth for study models, diagnostic casts and athletic
appliances.
(iii)
Clinical experience component. The EFDA program shall include
a minimum of 120 hours of clinical experience performing expanded function
dental assisting procedures as an integral part of the EFDA program. The
clinical experience component shall be designed to achieve a student's clinical
competence in each of the expanded function dental assisting procedures in
§ 33.205a.
(7)
Demonstrating competency.
(i)
General education.
Students of the EFDA program shall be required to demonstrate competency in
general education subjects by attaining a passing grade on
examinations.
(ii)
Laboratory and preclinical instruction. Students in the EFDA
program shall be required to demonstrate competency by attaining a score of at
least 80% in laboratory and preclinical courses. Students shall be required to
demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to:
(A) Carve the anatomy of all teeth.
(B) Establish proper contact areas,
embrasures, marginal adaptation, as well as facial and lingual heights of
contour to restore the proper tooth form and function in restorative materials
commonly used for direct restorations, such as amalgam and composite
resin.
(C) Apply the basic concepts
and terms of occlusion and carving concepts in the restoration of proper
occlusal relationships.
(D)
Describe the problems associated with improper contouring of
restorations.
(E) Identify and
differentiate G.V. Black's cavity classifications.
(F) Select, prepare, assemble, place and
remove a variety of matrices and wedges.
(G) Place and finish Class I-VI restorations
with correct marginal adaptation contour, contact and occlusion.
(H) Assemble, place and remove rubber
dams.
(I) Place sealants.
(J) Crown and bridge provisional
fabrication.
(K) Understand the act
and this chapter as they apply to an expanded function dental assistant's
responsibilities.
(L) Perform
coronal polishing.
(M) Perform
fluoride treatments, including fluoride varnish.
(N) Take impressions of teeth for study
models, diagnostic casts and athletic appliances.
(iii)
Clinical experience.
EFDA program students shall be evaluated and deemed clinically competent by at
least one licensed dentist evaluator in a clinical setting. The EFDA program
director shall instruct the dentist clinical evaluators regarding the required
competencies to ensure consistency in evaluation. Clinical competency is
achieved when the dentist evaluator confirms the student has sufficient
knowledge, skill and expertise in performing expanded functions to meet and
maintain the acceptable and prevailing standard of care within the dental
community in this Commonwealth.
(iv)
Documenting competency.
(A) The EFDA program faculty and program
director shall document the student's general education, preclinical and
laboratory competency attainment.
(B) The licensed dentist evaluator shall
document the student's clinical competency attainment prior to graduation from
the EFDA program.
(C) The EFDA
program director shall sign a statement certifying the student's competency
attainment in general education, laboratory and preclinical instruction, and
clinical experience to the Board as part of the student's application for
certification as an expanded function dental assistant.
(D) The EFDA program shall retain supporting
documentation evidencing the student's competency attainment for a minimum of 5
years from graduation or completion of the EFDA program.
(d)
Refusal or
withdrawal of approval. The Board may refuse to approve an EFDA
program or may remove an EFDA program from the approved list if it fails to
meet and maintain the requirements set forth in this section, in accordance
with the following:
(1) The Board will give
an EFDA program notice of its provisional denial of approval or of its intent
to remove the program from the approved list.
(2) The notice will set forth the
requirements that are not being met or maintained by the EFDA
program.
(3) A program served with
a provisional denial or notice of intent to remove will be given 45 days in
which to file a written answer to the notice.
(4) The EFDA program will be provided an
opportunity to appear at a hearing to demonstrate why approval should not be
refused or withdrawn.
(5) The Board
will issue a written decision.
(6)
The Board's written decision is a final decision of a governmental agency
subject to review under
2
Pa.C.S. §
702 (relating to
appeals).
(e)
Biennial renewal of EFDA program approval. EFDA program
approvals are renewable for a 2-year period beginning on April 1 of each
odd-numbered year. An EFDA program shall apply for renewal of Board approval on
forms provided by the Board and pay the fee for biennial renewal in §
33.3. Upon applying for renewal,
the EFDA program shall update all of the information required under subsection
(b)(1)-(9) or certify that there have not been changes to the EFDA
program.
The provisions of this §33.117 adopted under
section 3(a), (b), (d.1)(1) and (o) of The Dental Law (63 P. S. §
122(a), (b), (d.1)(1) and
(o)).
