A dental assistant in Tennessee CAN do the following under direct supervision of the supervising dentist:
– A dental assistant in Tennessee can provide support to a dentist under the supervision of a properly licensed dentist.
– There are x-ray licensing requirements in Tennessee for dental assistants. These are (from the Dental Assisting National Board website):
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be a Registered Dental Assistant in Tennessee
- Successfully complete a Tennessee Board-approved radiology certification course (to qualify, one must be a current Tennessee RDA), or Successfully complete a comparable training program in dental radiology in another state, or Be enrolled in a CODA-accredited or Board-approved dental assisting program that offers a dental radiology course as part of its curriculum, or hold current DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, or Pass DANB’s Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam,
- Apply to the Tennessee Board of Dentistry for state certification in dental radiology
– Chart and inspect the mouth and teeth.
– Apply fluoride topically.
– Place a rubber dam.
– Take blood pressure, temperature and pulse.
– Give oral hygiene instructions.
A dental assistant in Tennessee 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.
Tennessee also offers a certificate to become a Registered Dental Assistant. For more information on the requirements, visit the Tennessee Board of Dentistry.
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