A dental assistant in Washington CAN do the following under direct supervision of the supervising dentist:
– A dental assistant in Washington can provide support to a dentist under the supervision of a properly licensed dentist.
– There are x-ray licensing requirements in Washington for dental assistants. These are (from the Dental Assisting National Board website):
- Be 18 years of age or older
- All dental assistants (registered dental assistants and EFDAs) operating x-ray equipment in the state of Washington shall be adequately instructed in safe operating procedures and shall be able to demonstrate competence, upon request from the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), in the correct use of the equipment.
– 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 Washington 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.
Washington also offers a certificate in as (1) Registered Dental Assistant, (2) Expanded Function Dental Auxilliary and (3) Dental Anesthesia Assistant. For more information on the requirements, visit the Washington Board of Dentistry.
Relevant Links: