Rule 150-9-.01 - General Duties of Dental Assistants(1) A dental assistant shall be defined as one who is employed in a dental office to perform certain duties that assist the dentist. It is expected that the dental assistant will be familiar with the operations performed in the conduct of a dental practice; specifically, the sterilization of instruments, the general hygiene of the mouth, secretarial work, making appointments and bookkeeping. Under no circumstances may he or she perform any of the operations catalogued as dental hygiene treatments in O.C.G.A. § 43-11-74 or Board Rule 150-5-.03(5).(2) Direct supervision and control as it pertains to a dental assistant shall mean that a dentist licensed in Georgia is in the dental office or treatment facility, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedures and remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedures are being performed by the dental assistant and, before dismissal of the patient, evaluates the performance of the dental assistant.(3) In addition to routine duties, the general duties identified below may be delegated to dental assistants under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. These duties may only be delegated in those instances when they are easily reversible and will not result in increased risk to the patient:(a) Make impressions for diagnostic models and opposing models.(b) Place and expose radiographs after completing the training required by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 111-8-90-.04 titled X-Rays in the Health Arts.(c) Remove sutures - other than wire sutures.(d) Remove periodontal dressing.(e) Place and remove rubber dams.(f) Apply topical anesthetic.(g) Remove visible excess cement from supramarginal areas of dental restorations and appliances with non-mechanical hand instruments.(h) Fabricate extraorally temporary crowns and bridges.(i) Cement temporary crowns and bridges with intermediate cement.(j) Remove temporary crowns and bridges seated with intermediate cement.(k) Place intracoronal temporary restorations using intermediate cement.(l) Place drying and deoiling agents prior to the cementation of permanent crowns and bridges.(m) Remove dry socket medication.(n) Place and take off a removable prosthesis with a pressure sensitive paste after the appliance has been initially seated by the dentist.(o) Etch unprepared enamel.(p) Polish the enamel and restorations of the anatomical crown; however, this procedure may only be executed through the use of a slow speed handpiece (not to exceed 10,000 rpm), rubber cup and polishing agent. This procedure shall in no way be represented to patient as a prophylaxis. This procedure shall be used only for the purpose of enamel preparation for:2. Cementation of fixed restorations,3. Bonding procedures including supramarginal enamel restorations after removal of orthodontic appliances. No direct charge shall be made to the patient for such procedure.(q) Dry canals with absorbent points and place soothing medicaments (not to include endodontic irrigation); and place and remove temporary stopping with non-mechanical hand instruments only.(r) Place matrix bands and wedges.(s) Select, pre-size and seat orthodontic arch wires with brackets which have been placed by the dentist. Adjustment of the arch wire may only be made by the dentist.(t) Select and pre-size orthodontic bands which initially must be seated by the dentist.(u) Place and remove pre-treatment separators.(v) Cut and tuck ligatures, remove ligatures and arch wires, remove loose or broken bands.(w) Remove and recement loose bands that previously have been contoured and fitted by a dentist, but only after a dentist has examined the affected tooth and surrounding gingival and found no evidence of pathology.(x) Perform phlebotomy and venipuncture procedures after appropriate Board approved training is successfully completed as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-11-23.(y) Use a rubber cup prophy on a patient with primary dentition. A dental assistant may only begin providing rubber cup prophies after the dental assistant has completed a curriculum approved by the Board or a minimum of eight hours of on-the-job training in the provision of rubber cup prophies by a dentist licensed to practice in Georgia.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 150-9-.01
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-7, 43-11-9, 43-11-23, 43-11-80, 43-11-81.
Original Rule entitled "Expanded Duties of Dental Auxiliary Personnel" adopted. F. June 26, 1973; eff. July 16, 1973.Amended: F. May 5, 1982; eff. May 25, 1982.Amended: F. July 2, 1985; eff. July 22, 1985.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Expanded Duties of Dental Assistants" adopted. F. Oct. 25, 1989; eff. Nov. 14, 1989.Amended: F. June 27, 1990; eff. July 17, 1990.Amended: F. Nov. 7, 1991; eff. Nov. 27, 1991.Repealed: New Rule entitled "General Duties of Dental Assistants" adopted. F. Sept. 2, 1992; eff. Sept. 22, 1992.Amended: F. Oct. 29, 1996; eff. Nov. 18, 1996.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Apr. 20, 1999; eff. May 10, 1999.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 31, 2003; eff. Feb. 20, 2003.Amended: F. Jan. 7, 2013; eff. Jan. 27, 2013.Amended: F. Apr. 17, 2013; eff. May 7, 2013.Amended: F. May 2, 2018; eff. May 22, 2018.Amended: F. Jan. 31, 2024; eff. Feb. 20, 2024.