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(a)A Texas licensed dentist who is enrolled as a Medicaid Provider with appropriate state agencies 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 (d) of this section. (b)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. Cleansing is intended only to prepare the teeth for the application of sealants and should not exceed the amount needed to do so. (c)The dentist may not bill for a cleansing provided hereunder as a prophylaxis. (d)A dental assistant wishing to obtain certification must pay an application fee set by Board rule and on a form prescribed by the Board must provide proof of the following: (1)at least two years of experience as a dental assistant; (2)completion of a minimum of 16 hours of clinical and didactic education in pit and fissure sealants taken through an accredited dental hygiene program approved by the Board whose course of instruction includes: (A)infection control; (B)cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (C)treatment of medical emergencies; (D)microbiology; (E)chemistry; (F)dental anatomy; (G)ethics related to pit and fissure sealants; (H)jurisprudence related to pit and fissure sealants; and (I)the correct application of sealants, including the actual clinical application of sealants; and (3)Submit proof that applicant has successfully completed a current course in basic life support given by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. (e)Before January 1 of each year, dental assistants certified hereunder who wish to renew their certifications must pay a renewal fee set by Board rule and must provide proof of the following: (1)completion of at least six hours of continuing education in technical and scientific coursework annually. 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. (A)Dental assistants shall select and participate in continuing education courses offered by or endorsed by 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 (B)by nationally recognized dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting organizations. (C)No more than three hours may be in self-study; and (2)Submit proof that applicant has successfully completed a current course in basic life support given by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal
has been
reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State, on October 5, 2001
TRD-200106026 Jeffry R. Hill
Executive Director
State Board of Dental Examiners
Earliest possible date of adoption: November 18, 2001
For further information, please call: (512) 463-6400
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