A dental assistant in West Virginia CAN do the following under direct supervision of the supervising dentist:
– A dental assistant in West Virginia can provide support to a dentist under the supervision of a properly licensed dentist.
– There are no x-ray (radiography) licensing requirements in West Virginia for dental assistants.
– Chart and inspect the mouth and teeth.
– Apply fluoride topically.
– Place a rubber dam.
– Take blood pressure, temperature and pulse.
– Give oral hygiene instructions.
A dental assistant in West Virginia 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.
West Virginia also offers a certificate in expanded duty dental assisting. For more information on the requirements, visit the West Virginia Board of Dentistry.
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