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Dental Assistant Florida

A dental assistant in Florida CAN do the following under direct supervision of the supervising dentist:

– A dental assistant in Florida can provide support for dental procedures under the supervision of a properly licensed dentist.

– There x-ray licensing requirements. These include (from DANB):

  • A dental assistant must either:

    1.  Graduate from a Florida Board of Dentistry-approved dental assisting school or program, OR

    2.  Be state-certified as a dental radiographer by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).

    To obtain this certification, one must:

    (a) Successfully complete at least three months of continuous on-the-job training in the exposing of radiographs under the direct supervision of a Florida-licensed dentist, AND

    (b) Successfully complete a Florida Board-approved radiology course within 12 months of completing on-the-job training, AND

    (c) Apply to the FDOH for certification.

– Chart and inspect the mouth and teeth.

– Place a rubber dam.

– Take blood pressure, temperature and pulse.

– Give oral hygiene instructions.

A dental assistant in Florida CANNOT do the following:

– Remove stains and deposits from teeth (clean teeth).

– Place sealants on the teeth.

– Apply stainless steel crowns or fillings

– Repair or fill cavities.

– Give or administer anesthetics (shots).

– Any other activities or duties of dentistry that are specifically limited to dentists or dental hygenists.

A Dental Assistant Formally Trained in expanded functions in Florida CAN do the following:

– Apply fluoride topically

–  Polish crowns

–  Make impressions

–  Take impressions

–  Fabricate and cement temporary crowns

–  The steps to become a dental assistant formally trained in expanded functions can be found here.

Relevant Links:

Florida Board of Dentistry

American Dental Assistants Association