A dental assistant in Florida CAN do the following under direct supervision of the supervising dentist:
– A dental assistant in Florida can provide support for dental procedures under the supervision of a properly licensed dentist.
– There x-ray licensing requirements. These include (from DANB):
- A dental assistant must either:
1. Graduate from a Florida Board of Dentistry-approved dental assisting school or program, OR
2. Be state-certified as a dental radiographer by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).
To obtain this certification, one must:
(a) Successfully complete at least three months of continuous on-the-job training in the exposing of radiographs under the direct supervision of a Florida-licensed dentist, AND
(b) Successfully complete a Florida Board-approved radiology course within 12 months of completing on-the-job training, AND
(c) Apply to the FDOH for certification.
– Chart and inspect the mouth and teeth.
– Place a rubber dam.
– Take blood pressure, temperature and pulse.
– Give oral hygiene instructions.
A dental assistant in Florida CANNOT do the following:
– Remove stains and deposits from teeth (clean teeth).
– Place sealants on the teeth.
– Apply stainless steel crowns or fillings
– Repair or fill cavities.
– Give or administer anesthetics (shots).
– Any other activities or duties of dentistry that are specifically limited to dentists or dental hygenists.
A Dental Assistant Formally Trained in expanded functions in Florida CAN do the following:
– Apply fluoride topically
– Polish crowns
– Make impressions
– Take impressions
– Fabricate and cement temporary crowns
– The steps to become a dental assistant formally trained in expanded functions can be found here.
Relevant Links: