Md. Code Regs. 10.44.01.05 - Dental Assistants Recognized as Qualified in General Duties

A. A dentist may use the services of a dental assistant to perform certain duties if the dental assistant:

(1) Has successfully completed a Board-approved course of at least 35 hours related to Maryland general duties dental assisting; and

(1) (2) Is certified by the Dental Assisting National Board as qualified in general duties or -was recognized by the Board of Dental Examiners, on or before June 19, 1974, as a dental assistant qualified in general duties.

B. If a dental assistant meets the qualifications of §A of this regulation, a dentist may use the services of the dental assistant qualified in general duties to perform the following intraoral tasks, provided that the tasks are performed only in response to a specific instruction from and under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist:

(1) Performing vitality tests;

(2) Taking impressions for study models or diagnostic casts;

(3) Taking alginate impressions for intraoral appliances;

(4) Applying topical fluoride;

(5) Applying desensitizing agents;

(6) Applying topical anesthesia;

(7) Placing or removing a rubber dam;

(8) Etching;

(9) Curing by the use of a halogen light;

(10) Fabricating indirect restorations in a dental office;

(11) Placing or removing a matrix band;

(12) Drying a root canal;

(13) Preparing and fitting stainless steel crowns;

(14) Placing or removing retraction cord;

(15) Preparing temporary crowns;

(16) Cementing temporary crowns or restorations;

(17) Removing temporary crowns;

(18) Removing excess cement;

(19) Removing or placing a periodontal dressing (except placing the original periodontal dressing);

(20) Removing sutures;

(21) Constructing athletic mouth guards on models; and

(22) Any other duty approved by the Board.

C. A dentist may not use the services of a dental assistant qualified in general duties to perform any of the following services on the basis that the dental assistant meets the qualifications of §A of this regulation:

(1) Examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning;

(2) Surgery on hard or soft tissues;

(3) Oral prophylactic procedures, including scaling, root planing, and polishing teeth;

(4) Condensing, carving, or finishing any restoration;

(5) Administering injectable local anesthesia;

(6) Applying pit and fissure sealants;

(7) Initiation of treatment at any time for the correction of malocclusions and malformations of the teeth or jaws;

(8) Cementing of orthodontic bands, placement of bonded attachments or the removal of cemented or bonded orthodontic bands and attachments;

(9) Cementing permanent crowns or restorations;

(10) Adjusting occlusion of natural teeth, restorations, or appliances;

(11) Registration of jaw relations;

(12) Placing an initial surgical dressing;

(13) Preparing or fitting orthodontic bands;

(14) Placing or removing an arch wire;

(15) Selecting headgear;

(16) Placing elastics or ligatures; and

(17) Adjusting prosthetic appliances.

Notes

Md. Code Regs. 10.44.01.05

Regulation .05 amended effective January 7, 2002 (28:26 Md. R. 2274); amended effective 43:11 Md. R. 634, eff.6/6/2016