Dental Assistant Registration
Kentucky does not issue a dental assistant license and no application or approval process is required by the Board for someone to work in that capacity. Instead, dental assistants need only to maintain CPR certification and be registered with the Board. However, the responsibility to register assistants and document CPR training belongs to the employer dentist. Registration simply means the dentist must update the names of their dental assistants as part of their license renewal process every two years. No action is required on the part of the assistant.
General Duties
Kentucky defines Dental Assistant as "a person who is directly involved with the care and treatment of
a patient under the direct supervision of a dentist and performs reversible procedures delegated by a dentist licensed in the Commonwealth." Therefore, dental assistants may not perform any procedures that typically require the professional competence of a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist. This includes but is not limited to:
- The practice of dental hygiene or the use of instruments which remove deposits or accretions from the teeth
- Diagnosis of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the oral cavity
- Treatment planning and prescribing, or authorization for oral appliances
- Surgery or any other procedure that contributes to an irreversible alteration of the oral anatomy
- Administering injectable medication or anesthesia, unless otherwise authorized by law
Expanded Duties
Special titles or certifications such as Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) or Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) are not specifically recognized under Kentucky law and do not directly confer any special privileges (although any qualifying education received while earning such a title may be used to fulfill the expanded duty requirements below). Also, Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) simply refers to an assistant who has been registered by their employer dentist and is not a recognition of any special training or achievement.
Kentucky authorizes three expanded duties for dental assistants: coronal polishing, radiography, and intravenous access lines. Pursuant to state law, dental assistants can only perform these duties if they have the qualifying education and training described below. However, dental assistants are not required to provide transcripts, certificates of completion, or other verification of training to the Board. Instead, the employer dentist should verify the training and keep copies of any documentation on file to be produced upon request. Failure on the part of the dental assistant to obtain the required training or of the employer dentist to properly document the training are grounds for disciplinary action.
Coronal Polishing
To perform coronal polishing under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must complete an eight hour course from an educational institution accredited by the Council on Dental Accreditation (CODA). See Section 3 of 201 KAR 8.571 for the complete coronal polishing requirement.
Radiographs
To take X-rays under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must complete a six hour course in dental radiography safety and four hours of instruction in dental radiographic technique. The radiographic technique requirement may be satisfied either by taking a four hour course or from completing four hours of in-office training provided under supervision of the dentist. See Section 4 of 201 KAR 8.571 to read the radiography rule in its entirety.
Intravenous Access Lines
To start IV access lines under the supervision of a licensed dentist who holds a sedation or anesthesia permit, a dental assistant must complete a Board-approved course that addresses patient safety, anatomy and physiology, and techniques for starting and maintaining IV lines. Visit the Course Approval page to see currently approved classes. See Section 5 of 201 KAR 8.571 for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I've just been hired as a dental assistant. Do I need to file anything with the Board?
A: No. A formal application or reporting process is not required by the Board prior to starting work as a dental assistant. However, Kentucky law does require assistants to be trained in CPR (documentation of which should be kept on file with your office, not the Board). Further, your employer dentist must update their list of assistants with the Board but only when they renew their license for another two years.
Q: How do I transfer my dental assistant license from another state to Kentucky?
A: Dental assistants are not required to be licensed in Kentucky. Therefore, the Board has no process for transferring or accepting an out-of-state license. Regardless of any licenses held in other states, no formal communication with the Board is required for a dental assistant to begin working in Kentucky.
Q: What are my responsibilities as a dentist if I employ dental assistants?
A: An employer dentist's two primary responsibilities related to assistants are registration and record keeping. Registration simply means that dentists must update their list of previously reported dental assistants when they renew their license every two years. Secondly, dentists must maintain a personnel file for each assistant that contains a copy of their current CPR certification as well as documentation of any expanded duty training the assistant has been authorized to perform.
Q: I just completed my coronal polishing, X-ray, or IV access line training. Do I need to get something in writing from the Board before I can perform these procedures?
A: No. The Board does not issue any formal authorization for dental assistants to perform expanded duties. Instead, it is the responsibility of the employing dentist to verify the assistant's education. If the minimum training requirement for an expanded duty has been met, the dental assistant may perform that duty at the dentist's discretion. A copy of any training verification documents, such as a transcript or certificate of completion, should be kept in the assistant's personnel file.
Q: If I am certified as an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA), can I perform any expended duty?
A: Not necessarily. In Kentucky, EDDAs, EFDAs, and other similarly titled dental assistants are not automatically authorized to perform coronal polishing, take X-rays, or insert IV access lines. Instead, each of these expanded duties has their own training requirement that must be met. However, any qualifying education received while earning an expanded duty certificate may be used to fulfill the expanded duty training requirements.
Q: I have a radiography certificate from another state. Can I use it to take X-rays in Kentucky?
A: Every state has its own rules for regulating dental assistants. Some require assistants to apply for a board-approved certificate before being authorized to take X-rays. Kentucky, however, does not issue such a certificate, nor does it require one for an assistant who practiced in another state. Instead, we simply require that the assistant has completed a six hour course in dental radiography safety and four hours of instruction in dental radiographic technique. Verification of this training need only be performed by the dental assistant's employer dentist, not the Board itself.
Q: Where can I find out more about the specific rules for dental assistants in Kentucky?
A: The Kentucky Board of Dentistry's statutes and regulations for dental assistants can be found in KRS 313.045 and 201 KAR 8:533.