32-1291.02. Oral preventive assistants; qualifications; scope of practice; supervision; definition

390 words·~2 min read·/az/title-32/32-1291-02

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. In order to practice as an oral preventive assistant, a dental assistant shall complete a board-approved oral preventive assistant training course that includes at least one hundred twenty hours of didactic and clinical instruction with patients and that is provided by a qualifying institution. Before taking an oral preventive assistant training course, a dental assistant must meet all of the following:

1. Hold a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

2. Hold a board-approved certification for both coronal polishing and radiography.

3. Either:

(a)Hold a current national board certification in dental assisting.

(b)Have successfully completed a dental assisting educational program accredited by a state or national organization that accredits dental programs.

B. The scope of practice for an oral preventive assistant is limited to removing plaque, calculus and stains, with scalers or sonic or ultrasonic scaling devices, on patients who have first received a periodontal evaluation by a dentist or dental hygienist. An oral preventive assistant may practice only on periodontally healthy patients or patients with localized mild gingivitis. An oral preventive assistant may not use any air polishing technology or device or practice on patients who have been treated for periodontal disease, have generalized recession, are medically compromised or are under sedation.

C. An oral preventive assistant who provides coronal calculus removal services pursuant to this section shall both:

1. Inform each patient and document in the patient's clinical record that the patient's care was not provided by a licensed dental provider.

2. Prominently post the oral preventive assistant's certificate of completion of an approved course of instruction at the location where the coronal calculus removal services are performed.

D. An oral preventive assistant may practice in this state only under the direct supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist. A dentist may supervise not more than three oral preventive assistants at the same time. A dental hygienist may supervise not more than one oral preventive assistant at any time. A dentist or dental hygienist who allows an oral preventive assistant to perform coronal calculus removal services in violation of this section commits an act of unprofessional conduct.

E. For the purposes of this section, "qualifying institution" means an institution of higher education, including a community college, that provides a dental or dental hygiene program that is accredited by the commission on dental accreditation, or its successor.