Mont. Admin. r. 24.138.406

Current through Register Vol. 21, November 2, 2024

Rule 24.138.406 - FUNCTIONS FOR DENTAL AUXILIARIES AND AUXILIARIES WHO HOLD DENTAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION

(1) Dental auxiliaries as defined in 37-4-408(1), MCA, may work under direct supervision if the auxiliary:

(a) was instructed and qualified to perform in a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor; or

(b) was instructed and trained by a licensed dentist.

(2) A dental auxiliary under direct supervision may perform the following dental procedures including, but not limited to:

(a) making radiographic exposures as prescribed by the supervising dentist only if the auxiliary:

(i) has graduated from an accredited program of dental assisting, dental hygiene, or dentistry accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor; or

(ii) has been certified in dental radiology as a result of military experience; or

(iii) has successfully completed a board-approved radiology written examination;

(b) initiating, adjusting, and monitoring nitrous oxide flow for a patient who has been prescribed and administered nitrous oxide by a licensed dentist;

(c) taking impressions for study or working casts;

(d) removing sutures and dressings;

(e) applying topical anesthetic agents;

(f) providing oral health instructions;

(g) applying topical fluoride agents;

(h) removing excess cement from coronal surfaces;

(i) placing and removing rubber dams;

(j) placing and removing matrices;

(k) collecting patient data;

(l) polishing amalgam restorations;

(m) placing and removing temporary restoration with hand instruments only;

(n) placing pit and fissure sealants;

(o) digital capture of dental images;

(p) coronal polishing; and

(q) sodium bicarbonate air polishing.

(3) Dental auxiliaries performing any intraoral procedure must be under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.

(4) A certified dental assistant as defined in 37-4-408(2), MCA, under general supervision may:

(a) place pit and fissure sealants following an in-person comprehensive oral examination or periodic examination within the preceding 30 days;

(b) perform other intraoral procedures not requiring direct supervision; and

(c) expose radiographs.

(5) A certified dental assistant may work under general supervision but may not perform the following tasks unless under direct supervision:

(a) initiating, adjusting, and monitoring nitrous oxide flow for a patient who has been prescribed and administered nitrous oxide;

(b) applying silver diamine fluoride agents;

(c) placing and removing rubber dams;

(d) placing and removing matrices;

(e) polishing amalgam restorations; and

(f) applying topical anesthetic agents.

(6) In addition to the prohibitions in 37-4-401, MCA, no dentist shall allow any dental auxiliary, including certified dental assistants, to perform the following:

(a) administering or dispensing any drug, without the prior authorization of the supervising dentist;

(b) administering intravenous and intramuscular injections or local anesthetic;

(c) placing, carving, or condensing any permanent restorations;

(d) taking final impressions of the involved arch for crowns, bridges, implant prosthesis, partial dentures, or complete dentures;

(e) bonding or cementing any fixed prosthesis, including veneers, except for provisionals;

(f) bonding or cementing orthodontic brackets or orthodontic appliances that would provide activation upon cementation;

(g) placing sulcular medicinal or therapeutic materials;

(h) periodontal probing; or

(i) metal based air polishing.

(7) The assignment of tasks and procedures to dental auxiliaries, including certified dental assistants, shall not relieve the dentist from liability for all treatment rendered the patient.

(8) A dentist licensed to use or direct the use of an x-ray producing device must ensure that the radiation source under the dentist's control is used only by individuals competent to use it. Proof of current certification must be readily available for review by the public or the board upon request.

Mont. Admin. r. 24.138.406

NEW, 1995 MAR p. 2795, Eff. 11/23/95; AMD, 1996 MAR p. 3118, Eff. 12/6/96; TRANS, from Commerce, & AMD, 2003 MAR p. 2435, Eff. 10/31/03; AMD, 2007 MAR p. 43, Eff. 1/12/07; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 411, Eff. 2/12/10; AMD, 2015 MAR p. 1904, Eff. 10/30/2015; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 2366, Eff. 12/28/2019; AMD,2020 MAR p. 588, Eff.3/28/2020; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 2205, Eff. 9/21/2024

AUTH: 37-4-205, 37-4-408, MCA; IMP: 37-4-408, MCA