Haw. Code R. § 16-79-69.1 - Allowable duties and training for a dental assistant

(a) A dental assistant may perform the following supportive dental procedures under the direct supervision, direction, evaluation, and responsibility of a licensed dentist:

(1) Assisting the licensed dentist who is actually performing a dental procedure on the patient, that includes: preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups; retracting a patient's oral tissues to maintain the field of operation during the dental procedure; removing debris, as is normally created and accumulated during or after operative procedures by the dentist; placing and removing the rubber dam; mixing dental materials; and transferring dental instruments or any other concept of four-handed dentistry the dentist requires to perform the procedure;

(2) Assisting the licensed dental hygienist in the performance of the duties of the dental hygienist; provided the assistance does not include procedures included in section 16-79-69.5 and section 16-79-69.10;

(3) Collecting medical and dental histories, taking intra-oral and extra-oral photographs, and recording or charting clinical findings as dictated by the licensed dentist or dental hygienist;

(4) Completing prescription and authorization forms for drug or restorative, prosthodontic or orthodontic appliance for the supervising licensed dentist whereby the dentist signs the forms;

(5) Conducting mouth mirror supragingival inspections and reporting observations to the supervising licensed dentist; provided that this is not interpreted as an oral cancer screening;

(6) Exposing, processing, mounting, and labeling radiographs;

(7) Making impressions for study casts, opposing models, occlusal appliances (e.g., splints, bite guards), mouth guards, orthodontic retainers, and medicament trays;

(8) Making intra-oral measurements for orthodontic procedures, performing the preliminary selection and sizing of bands; checking for loose bands and bonded brackets; placing and removing orthodontic separators, ligature ties, and inter-arch elastics (i.e., chain elastics and rubber bands); fitting and removing head appliances; and removing arch wires;

(9) Measuring and recording vital signs;

(10) Monitoring the nitrous oxide/oxygen unit and reporting to the supervising dentist any adverse observations, provided the licensed dentist evaluates, initiates, and administers the sedation;

(11) Placing matrix retainers;

(12) Placing non-aerosol topical anesthetics;

(13) Relating pre-operative and post-operative instructions, and patient education in oral hygiene as instructed by the supervising licensed dentist or dental hygienist;

(14) Removing dressing and sutures;

(15) Removing excess supragingival cement after a licensed dentist has placed a permanent or temporary prosthetic restoration, appliance, or orthodontic bands with hand instruments; and

(16) Performing a try-in with any removable prosthetic or orthodontic appliance, provided the supervising licensed dentist makes the adjustments.

(b) The board requires the supervising licensed dentist to appropriately train or provide training to dental assistants which shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Proper sterilization and disinfection procedures which meet the guidelines of:

(A) The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogen standards;

(B) The State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Occupational Health and Safety bloodborne pathogen standards;

(C) The CDC prevention guidelines; and

(D) The ADA Clinical Practice Guidelines;

(2) Ethics;

(3) Proper record keeping and patient confidentiality; and

(4) CPR.

The training courses shall be provided by sponsors pursuant to section 16-79-142.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 16-79-69.1

[Eff and comp 2/9/89; comp 8/20/90; am and comp 2/9/01; comp 2/9/02] (Auth: HRS § 448-6) (Imp: HRS § 448-3) [am and comp 1/27/14; Am and Comp 8/22/2016] (Imp: HRS § 448-6)