The California Dental Practice Act _ ____________________________________________________________
the supervision of a licensed dentist” [1]. Basic supportive dental procedures are those procedures that have technically elementary characteristics, are completely reversible, and are unlikely to precipitate potentially hazardous conditions for the patient being treated. A licensed dentist is responsible for assuring unlicensed dental assistants’ competence and ensuring that they complete required coursework (e.g., two-hour Dental Practice Act, eight-hour infection control, basic life support) and maintain certification in basic life support (if employed for longer than 120 days). Specific duties pertaining to dental assistant practice can be found in CCR Section 1085 [28]. General information regarding regulations pertaining to dental assistants is located in CBPC Sections 1740–1777; although these sections are not discussed in this course, they should be periodically reviewed to ensure self-compliance with the act. The CBPC may include additional duties for various dental assistant professions. CCR Section 1085. Dental Assistant Duties and Settings. (a) Unless specifically so provided by regulation, a dental assistant may not perform the following functions or any other activity which represents the practice of dentistry or requires the knowledge, skill and training of a licensed dentist: 1. Diagnosis and treatment planning; 2. Surgical or cutting procedures on hard or soft tissue; 3. Fitting and adjusting of correctional and prosth- odontic appliances; 4. Prescription of medicines; 5. Placement, condensation, carving or removal of permanent restorations, including final cementation procedures; 6. Irrigation and medication of canals, try-in cones, reaming, filing or filling of root canals; 7. Taking of impressions for prosthodontic appliances, bridges or any other structures which may be worn in the mouth; 8. Administration of injectable and/or general anes- thesia; 9. Oral prophylaxis procedures. (b) A dental assistant may perform such basic supportive dental procedures as the following under the general supervision of a licensed dentist: 1. Extra-oral duties or functions specified by the super- vising dentist; 2. Operation of dental radiographic equipment for the purpose of oral radiography if the dental assistant has complied with the requirements of section 1656 of the Code; 3. Examine orthodontic appliances.
(c) A dental assistant may perform such basic supportive dental procedures as the following under the direct super- vision of a licensed dentist when done so pursuant to the order, control and full professional responsibility of the supervising dentist. Such procedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office of said dentist. 1. Take impressions for diagnostic and opposing mod- els, bleaching trays, temporary crowns and bridges, and sports guards; 2. Apply non-aerosol and non-caustic topical agents; 3. Remove post-extraction and periodontal dressings; 4. Placement of elastic orthodontic separators; 5. Remove orthodontic separators; 6. Assist in the administration of nitrous oxide analge- sia or sedation; however, a dental assistant shall not start the administration of the gases and shall not adjust the flow of the gases unless instructed to do so by the dentist who shall be present at the patient’s chairside at the implementation of these instructions. This regulation shall not be construed to prevent any person from taking appropriate action in the event of a medical emergency. 7. Hold anterior matrices; 8. Remove sutures; 9. Take intra-oral measurements for orthodontic pro- cedures; 10. Seat adjusted retainers or headgears, including appro- priate instructions; 11. Check for loose bands;
12. Remove arch wires; 13. Remove ligature ties;
14. Apply topical fluoride, after scaling and polishing by the supervising dentist or a registered dental hygienist; 15. Place and remove rubber dams; 16. Place, wedge and remove matrices; 17. Cure restorative or orthodontic materials in operative site with light-curing device. For the purpose of this section, a supervising licensed dentist is defined as a dentist whose patient is receiving the services of a dental assistant in the treatment facility and is under the direct control of said licensed dentist [1]. Direct supervision is defined as supervision of dental procedures based on instruc- tions given by a licensed dentist who must be physically present in the facility when the procedures are performed.
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