1. A. No person shall practice as a dental assistant without first applying for and obtaining a permit from the Board of Dentistry.
2. B. The application shall be made to the Board in writing and shall be accompanied by the fee established by the Board, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant passes a background check with criteria established by the Board.
3. C. Every dental assistant receiving a permit shall complete a class on infection control as approved by the Board within one (1) year from the date of receipt of the permit. Failure to complete the class shall be grounds for discipline pursuant to Section 328.29a of this title.

4. D. There shall be eight types of expanded duty permits available for dental assistants upon completion of a program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or a course that has been approved by the Board:

   1. 1. Radiation safety;
   2. 2. Coronal polishing and topical fluoride;
   3. 3. Sealants;
   4. 4. Assisting in the administration of nitrous oxide;
   5. 5. Phlebotomy;
   6. 6. Venipuncture;
   7. 7. Elder care and public health; or

   8. 8. Oral maxillofacial surgery. An oral maxillofacial surgery expanded duty permit shall be available to a dental assistant who has met the requirements as listed in Section 328.25 of this title and assists a dentist, pediatric dentist, or oral maxillofacial surgeon who holds a parenteral or general anesthesia permit; provided, only the dentist, pediatric dentist, or oral maxillofacial surgeon, or an anesthesiologist or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, may administer anesthesia and assess the patient's level of sedation and only the dentist, pediatric dentist, or oral maxillofacial surgeon may perform surgery.

      All expanded duties shall be added to the dental assistant permit upon approval by the Board.

5. E. The training requirements for all expanded duty permits shall be set forth by the Board. A program that is not CODA-certified must meet the standards set forth and be approved by the Board.
6. F. An applicant for a dental assistant permit who has graduated from a dental assisting program accredited by CODA and has passed the jurisprudence examination shall receive all expanded duty permits provided for in subsection D of this section if the course materials approved by the Board are covered in the program.

7. G. A dental assistant who holds an out-of-state dental assistant permit with expanded duties may apply for credentialing and reciprocity for a dental assistant permit including any expanded duty by demonstrating the following:

   1. 1. The dental assistant has had a valid dental assistant permit in another state for a minimum of two (2) years and is in good standing;
   2. 2. The dental assistant has had a valid expanded duty in another state for a minimum of one (1) year; and
   3. 3. The dental assistant provides a certificate or proof of completion of an educational class for the expanded duty and that the dental assistant has been providing this treatment to dental patients while working as a dental assistant in a dental office for one (1) year.

8. H. Any person having served in the military as a dental assistant shall receive credentialing and reciprocity for expanded functions by demonstrating the following:

   1. 1. Proof of military service in excess of two (2) years with any certifications or training in the expanded function areas; and
   2. 2. Verification from the commanding officer of the medical program or the appropriate supervisor stating that the dental assistant provided the expanded functions on patients in the military dental facility for a minimum of one (1) year within the past five (5) years.

9. I. Dental assistants are required to work under the direct supervision of a dentist for all procedures with the following exceptions:

   1. 1. A dental assistant may complete radiation safety under the general supervision of a dentist; and
   2. 2. A dental assistant may work under general supervision of a dentist to assist a hygienist with a procedure that the hygienist is allowed to perform under general supervision.

Laws 1970, SB 632, c. 173, § 24, emerg. eff. July 1, 1970; Amended by Laws 2000, HB 1351, c. 283, § 4, eff. November 1, 2000 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2015, SB 781, c. 229, § 12, emerg. eff. July 1, 2015 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2018, HB 2759, c. 151, § 6, eff. November 1, 2018 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2019, SB 603, c. 397, § 6 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2019, HB 1373, c. 363, § 10, eff. November 1, 2019 (repealed by Laws 2020, SB 1948, c. 161, § 33, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2020, SB 1948, c. 161, § 32, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2023, SB 754, c. 220, § 4, emerg. eff. July 1, 2023 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2024, SB 1929, c. 46, § 5, eff. November 1, 2024 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, SB 669, c. 273, § 6, eff. November 1, 2025 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2026, HB 3934, c. 183, § 8, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026 (superseded document available).