Wyo. Code R. 034-0001-6
Dental Examiners, Board of
Chapter 6: Dental Auxiliaries
Effective Date: 05/23/1991 to 03/05/2003
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 034.0001.6.05231991
Section 1. Dental Auxiliary Personnel. The following applies to dental auxiliary personnel generally:
(a) No irreversible procedures may be conducted by any dental auxiliary personnel unless otherwise specified.
Section 2. Practice of Dental Hygiene and Supervision Required. The following applies to the practice of Dental Hygiene:
(a) Each dental hygienist is responsible for maintaining a high degree of proficiency in the practice of dental hygiene and for keeping up with current educational standards of the profession.
(b) A dental hygienist shall work under the supervision of a qualified dentist. (c) Dental hygienists may work in the private office of a dentist, in the Armed Forces of the United States, in federal or state institutions, and nursing or retirement facilities.
(d) Dental hygienists are encouraged to promote oral health through lectures. They may accomplish this through talks to schools, institutions, groups, or individuals when asked. In no event should these appearances be used for the purpose of advertising or soliciting patients for himself/herself or a dentist.
(e) The following is a list of procedures that may be performed by a dental hygienist and the type of supervision required:
(A) Community dental health activities.
(B) Functions that are authorized for dental assistants set forth in rules or prescribed duties promulgated by the board.
(C) Scaling and polishing of teeth.
(D) Polishing amalgams and composites.
(E) Conduct screening examination of the oral cavity for oral disease.
(F) Placement of temporary fillings which require no removal of tooth structure.
(G) Root planing and soft tissue curettage.
(H) Place and expose radiographs.
(I) Process radiographs.
(J) Perform any related procedures required in the practice of the above duties.
(A) Preparing, placing, and removing periodontal packs.
(B) Place pit and fissure sealants.
(C) Removal of overhanging margins.
(D) Treatment of diagnosed dry socket.
(E) Treatment of diagnosed pericoronitis.
(F) Expanded dental duties are to be performed under the direct supervision of a qualified dentist.
(a) Expanded dental duties are to be performed under the direct supervision of a qualified dentist with the exception of the administration of a local anesthetic which can be performed under indirect supervision.
(b) In order to practice expanded duties, a dental hygienist must meet educational standards and pass an examination approved by the board, in a manner satisfactory to the board, for which an expanded duty certificate will be issued in which each individual expanded duty to be performed will be listed.
(c) Training programs will be approved in advance in writing by the board. Due to the varied programs, individual courses will require individual approval after the course content is reviewed by the board.
(d) The following is a list of accepted expanded duties:
(i) Placing, carving, and finishing amalgams.
(ii) Placing and finishing composites.
(iii) Administration of local anesthetic.
(e) Thirty (30) days prior to the exam each candidate will be required to supply proof, in writing, from the course administrator of satisfactory completion of the course in the expanded functions for which he/she was trained.
(f) Examination will occur twice per year at those times that the board examines all licensure candidates. The exam will be performed on patient(s) in a clinical setting. The materials and equipment are to be supplied by the candidate. Also, the exam will include an oral interview for the purpose of ascertaining the candidate’s knowledge of the duties he/she wishes to be certified to perform.
(a) A dentist holding a current Wyoming license may employ persons designated as “Dental Assistants”. They may be trained by their employer or by an accredited school for dental assistants.
(b) The following is a list of procedures that may be performed by dental assistants and the type of supervision required:
(i) General Supervision:
(A) Take vital statistics and health histories.
(B) Mix dental materials to be used by the dentist.
(C) Instruct patients in proper dental health care.
(D) Process radiographs.
(ii) Indirect Supervision:
(A) Take study model impressions.
(B) Apply topical medications, excluding pit and fissure sealants.
(C) Place and expose radiographs if the criteria set forth in Section 5 of this chapter have been met.
(iii) Direct Supervision:
(A) Remove sutures.
(B) Assist the dentist in all operative and surgical procedures.
(C) Place and remove rubber dams.
(D) Place and remove matrices.
(E) Remove excess cement from the coronal surfaces of the teeth.
(F) Prepare and remove periodontal packs.
(G) Polish the surfaces of the teeth, rubber cup only and not for the purpose of
prophylaxis.
(H) Orthodontic procedures involving the following:
(I) Tying ligature wires and/or elastic ties.
(II) Removing of ligature wire and/or elastic ties.
(III) Placement and removal of orthodontic wires and/or appliance that
have been activated by the dentist.
(IV) Take impressions for orthodontic retainers and removable orthodontic
appliances.
(V) Removal of orthodontic bands.
(VI) Placement and removal of orthodontic separators.
(I) The following orthodontic procedures may not be performed by dental assis-
tants:
(I) Removal of tooth structure for the placement of orthodontic appli-
ances.
(II) Activate an orthodontic appliance.
(III) Diagnosis for orthodontic treatment.
(IV) Remove direct bond attachments.
Section 5. Placement and Exposure of Radiographs by Dental Assistants. As of July 1, 1991, no dental assistant shall place and expose radiographs under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist unless one of the following requirements has been met:
(a) The assistant has completed an American Dental Association or board approved course in dental radiography.
(b) The assistant has at least three (3) years experience with a minimum of 1000 hours per year in the last four (4) years before July 1, 1990, and can demonstrate proficiency.
(c) The assistant is engaged in a course for radiologic technology, dental hygiene or dental assisting on July 1, 1990, who has completed the course or has completed a twenty-four (24) month course in radiologic technology within two (2) years before July 1, 1990, and can demonstrate proficiency.
(d) The assistant has been licensed by other states or certifying groups whose requirements are at least as stringent as those set forth by these rules.
(e) A dental assistant should complete a course of instruction approved in accordance with the requirements of this section. The board shall accept, in lieu of such course, the satisfactory completion of the certification examination given by the American Dental Association National Board, Inc. and any educational requirements as may be recommended by the board.
Section 6. Code of Ethics for Dental Auxiliaries. Each dental hygienist practicing in the state of Wyoming shall subscribe to the following: