By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 1216) of Harriette L. Chandler and Kay Kahn
for legislation concerning dental auxiliaries. Public
Health. |
By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 1216) of Harriette L. Chandler and Kay Kahn
for legislation concerning dental auxiliaries. Public
Health. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 112, section 43A is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “dental assistant” and substituting the following in place thereof:
“Dental assistant” an individual qualified by education, training or experience who, under the supervision of a licensed dentist, aids or assists the dentist in the performance of procedures or duties related to the provision of dental care.
Section 1. Chapter 112, section 43A is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in the appropriate alphabetical order in said Section 43A:“Certified dental assistant”, a dental assistant who is certified by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) as a Certified Dental Assistant.
“Expanded function dental assistant,” a certified dental assistant recognized by the board who has completed a continuing education program approved by the board in an ADA accredited institution that requires both didactic and clinical training in preventive and restorative care, oral health education, teaching and communication skills.
“Registered dental assistant”, a dental assistant recognized by the board who has successfully completed both a radiation health and safety course and an infection control course, each as approved by the board, and who has either been employed on a full-time basis as a dental assistant for at least two years or satisfies such other employment requirements as the board may by regulation establish.
“Dental assistant with advanced training”, a certified dental assistant, an expanded function dental assistant or a registered dental assistant.
“Expanded function dental hygienist”, a dental hygienist who has completed a continuing education program in an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited institution approved by the board that includes advanced clinical training in preventive, restorative, therapeutic skills and oral public health training.
Section 3. Chapter 112, is hereby amended by adding a new section 51B thereto as follows:
The board shall adopt rules and regulations that specify the courses that will lead to qualification of a dental assistant as a dental assistant with advanced training and that specify the duties that such a dental assistant may perform under the supervision of a dentist. The board shall adopt rules and regulations that set forth the procedures for a dental assistant who seeks recognition as a registered dental assistant, to demonstrate that he or she satisfies the experiential requirements applicable thereto. A dental assistant with advanced training shall pay a biennial fee to be determined biennially by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven, in default of which payment the board may revoke said recognition as a dental assistant with advanced training, after a hearing as provided for by section sixty-one, but payment of said fee at or before the time of hearing shall remove the default.
The board shall adopt rules and regulations for a system of continuing education for dental assistants with advanced training of not less than five and not more than twenty four hours biennially, compliance with which shall be a requirement and condition precedent to the renewal of recognition issued by the board.
No person who is not qualified as or is not recognized by the board as a dental assistant with advanced training shall use the terms “certified dental assistant,” “expanded function dental assistant” or “registered dental assistant” in connection with or related to his or her provision of any dental-related services. Nothing contained in this chapter shall restrict any person from providing the services of a dental assistant or a dental assistant with advanced training. Nothing contained in this chapter shall restrict the use of the term “dental assistant” in connection with the provision any dental-related services.
Section 4. Chapter 112, section 51 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraphs at the end of said section:
The board shall adopt rules and regulations that specify the courses that will lead to qualification of a dental hygienist as an expanded function dental hygienist and that specify the additional duties that such a dental hygienist may perform following a diagnosis by, and under the supervision of, a licensed dentist.
