| (a) The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Didactic education" requires the presentation and instruction of theory and scientific principles. (2) "Clinical education" requires providing care to patient(s) under the direct supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist instructor. (3) "Direct Supervision" requires that the instructor responsible for the procedure shall be physically present during patient care and shall be aware of the patient's physical status and well-being. (b) A Texas-licensed dentist who is enrolled as a Medicaid Provider with appropriate state agencies, or who practices in an area determined to be underserved by the Texas Department of Health, may delegate the application of a pit and fissure sealant to a dental assistant, if the dental assistant: (1) is employed by and works under the direct supervision of the licensed dentist; and (2) is certified pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. (c) In addition to application of pit and fissure sealants a dental assistant certified in this section may use a rubber prophylaxis cup and appropriate polishing materials to cleanse the occlusal and smooth surfaces of teeth that will be sealed or to prepare teeth for application of orthodontic bonding resins Cleansing is intended only to prepare the teeth for the application of sealants or bonding resins and should not exceed the amount needed to do so. (d) The dentist may not bill for a cleansing provided hereunder as a prophylaxis. (e) A dental assistant wishing to obtain certification under this section must: (1) Pay an application fee set by Board rule; (2) And on a form prescribed by the Board provide proof that the applicant has: (A) At least two years of experience as a dental assistant; (B) Successfully completed a current course in basic life support; and, (C) Completed a minimum of 16 hours of clinical and didactic education in pit and fissure sealants taken through a CODA accredited dental hygiene program approved by the Board whose course of instruction includes: (i) infection control; (ii) cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (iii) treatment of medical emergencies; (iv) microbiology; (v) chemistry; (vi) dental anatomy; (vii) ethics related to pit and fissure sealants; (viii) jurisprudence related to pit and fissure sealants; and (ix) the correct application of sealants, including the actual clinical application of sealants; and (f) Before January 1 of each year, a dental assistant registered under this section who wishes to renew that registration must: (1) Pay a renewal fee set by Board rule; (2) Submit proof that the applicant has successfully completed a current course in basic life support; and, (3) Provide proof of completion of at least six (6) hours of continuing education in technical and scientific coursework in the previous calendar year. (A) The terms "technical" and "scientific", as applied to continuing education, shall mean that courses have significant intellectual or practical content and are designed to directly enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skill in providing clinical care to the individual patient. (B) Dental assistants shall select and participate in continuing education courses offered by or endorsed by: (i) dental schools, dental hygiene schools, or dental assisting schools that have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association; or, (ii) nationally recognized dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting organizations. (C) No more than three (3) hours of the required continuing education coursework may be in self-study. |
