A. No person shall practice as a dental assistant or oral maxillofacial surgery assistant for more than one (1) day in a calendar year without having applied for a permit as a dental assistant or oral maxillofacial surgery assistant from the Board of Dentistry within thirty (30) days of beginning employment. During this time period, the dental assistant shall work under the direct visual supervision of a dentist at all times.

B. The application shall be made to the Board in writing and shall be accompanied by the fee established by the Board, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant:

1. Is of good moral character; and

2. Passes a background check with criteria established by the Board.

C. Beginning January 1, 2020, every dental assistant receiving a permit shall complete a class on infection control as approved by the Board within one (1) year from the date of receipt of the permit. Any person holding a valid dental assistant permit prior to January 1, 2020, shall complete an infection-control class as approved by the Board before December 31, 2020. Failure to complete the class shall be grounds for discipline pursuant to Section 328.29a of this title.

D. There shall be five types of expanded duty permits available for dental assistants upon completion of a program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or a course that has been approved by the Board:

1. Radiation safety;

2. Coronal polishing and topical fluoride;

3. Sealants;

4. Assisting in the administration of nitrous oxide; or

5. Assisting a dentist who holds a parenteral or pediatric anesthesia permit; provided, only the dentist may administer anesthesia and assess the patient's level of sedation.

E. The training requirements for all five expanded duty permits shall be set forth by the Board. A program that is not CODA-certified must meet the standards set forth and be approved by the Board.

F. An applicant for a dental assistant permit who has graduated from a dental assisting program accredited by CODA and has passed the jurisprudence test shall receive all five expanded duty permits provided for in subsection D of this section if the course materials approved by the Board are covered in the program.

G. A dental assistant who holds an out-of-state dental assistant permit with expanded duties may apply for credentialing and reciprocity for a dental assistant permit including any expanded duty by demonstrating the following:

1. The dental assistant has had a valid dental assistant permit in another state for a minimum of two (2) years and is in good standing;

2. The dental assistant has had a valid expanded duty in another state for a minimum of one (1) year; and

3. The dental assistant provides a certificate or proof of completion of an educational class for the expanded duty and that the dental assistant has been providing this treatment to dental patients while working as a dental assistant in a dental office for one (1) year.

H. Any person having served in the military as a dental assistant shall receive credentialing and reciprocity for expanded functions by demonstrating the following:

1. Proof of military service in excess of two (2) years with any certifications or training in the expanded function areas; and

2. Verification from the commanding officer of the medical program or the appropriate supervisor stating that the dental assistant provided the expanded functions on patients in the military dental facility for a minimum of one (1) year within the past five (5) years.

Added by Laws 1970, c. 173, § 24, eff. July 1, 1970. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 283, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 12, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2018, c. 151, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2019, c. 397, § 6.