As used in this chapter, the following words and terms mean:

1. (1) "Accredited dental hygiene school", any program which teaches a course in dental hygiene which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and which shall have a minimum of two academic years of curriculum provided in a college or institution of higher education;
2. (2) "Accredited dental school", any college, university, school, or other institution which teaches dentistry which has been certified by the American Dental Association;
3. (3) "Board", the Missouri dental board;
4. (4) "Certified dental assistant", a dental assistant who is currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.;
5. (5) "Dental assistant", an employee of a duly registered and currently licensed dentist in Missouri, other than either a dental hygienist or a certified dental assistant;
6. (6) "Expanded-functions dental assistant", any dental assistant who has passed a basic dental assisting skills mastery examination or a certified dental assistant, either of whom has successfully completed a board-approved expanded-functions course, passed a competency examination, and can show proof of competency in a specific expanded function to the Missouri dental board.

(L. 1969 S.B. 97, A.L. 1993 H.B. 540, A.L. 1995 S.B. 35)

Effective 6-13-95