Acronyms

N.D.D.A.A. – North Dakota Dental Assistants’ Association

A.D.A.A. – American Dental Assistants Association (when you are member of ADAA you are automatically a member of the NDDAA)

D.A.N.B. – Dental Assisting National Board

C.D.A. – Certified Dental Assistant-whom passed the DANB exam

R.D.A. – Registered Dental Assistant-whom pay a fee to state board & take the open book jurisprudence exam

D.A.R.W. - Dental Assistants Recognition Week

N.D.B.D.E. -North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners

N.D.D.A. – North Dakota Dental Association (dentists)

A.D.A. – American Dental Association

Dental Assistants- Registered? Certified? Do you know the difference?

The North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners is the governing body as to what a dental assistant may or may not be delegable to perform in our state. In the state of North Dakota, a dental assistant must be registered with the NDBODE before any procedures can be performed in the office. If an assistant is a certified dental assistant, they too must be registered in the state.

A dental assistant must register annually, is compliant with the continuing education requirements set forth by the board of dental examiners, CPR certified, and pay an annual fee.

The following definitions of dental assistants have been set forth by the board of dental examiners: “Registered dental assistant” is a dental assistant who is a graduate of a dental assistant program approved or provisionally approved by the commission on dental accreditation (CODA) of the American dental association; or who has received three thousand two hundred hours of dental assisting instruction including on-the-job training as a dental assistant and successfully completed dental assistant national boards; or who has completed a course in dental assisting which is approved by the North Dakota board of dental examiners, and who is registered by the North Dakota board of dental examiners.

“Certified dental assistant “ means a dental assistant who meets the education and/or experience prerequisites established by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and passes DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination (including Radiation Health and Safety (RSH), Infection Control (ICE), and General Chairside (GC) components), is currently CPR certified and continues to maintain the credential by meeting DANB requirements.

“Qualified dental assistant” means a dental assistant who has received on-the-job training or instruction totaling six hundred fifty hours and has completed a board-approved infection control seminar and passed the x-ray and infection control portions of the DANB examination, and has applied to the board and paid the certificate fee determined by the board.

Dental Assistants may perform sealants with the following criteria:

•  The assistant is currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), registered with the North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners and has provided documented proof of a board-approved sealant class or course offered at an accredited school;

•  The assistant is a graduate within the past two years of an accredited school recognized by the commission on the dental accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA), or if not a graduate of a CODA accredited school within two years, if the assistant successfully completes a board approved sealant class or course offered at an accredited school.

Dental assistants may monitor nitrous oxide with the following criteria:

•  A dentist may delegate the monitoring of nitrous oxide to a registered dental assistant utilizing direct supervision only after the patient has been stabilized at the desired level of conscious sedation or relative analgesia by the action of the dentist. A registered dental assistant who is assigned the monitoring task shall remain in the treatment room with the patient at all times.

•  The dentist must provide and document training for the registered dental assistant in the proper and safe operation of the analgesia machine being used, including the emergency procedures to be employed if required.

A dentist may delegate to a dental assistant under direct, indirect or general supervision, procedures over which the dentist exercises full responsibility as permitted by rules adopted by the board of dental examiners. The delegable expanded duties for dental assistants are listed under Article 20-30 in the North Dakota Rules and Regulations.

The ADAA Statement of Professional Commitment

"As a professional dental assistant, I will promote the advancement of the careers of dental assistants and the dental assisting profession in matters of education, legislation credentialing and professional activities which enhance the delivery of quality dental health care to the public."