§ 153.38 — Dental assistants — scope of practice

Iowa § 153.38

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title IV: PUBLIC HEALTH
• Ch. 153: DENTISTRY

Text

A dental assistant may perform those services of assistance to a licensed dentist as
determined by the board by rule. A dental assistant with additional education and training,
as provided by the board by rule, may perform expanded functions or participate in dental
radiography. A dental assistant who has successfully completed expanded function training
through the university of Iowa college of dentistry or a program certified by the commission
on dental accreditation may place dental sealants on teeth. Services performed by a dental
assistant shall be performed under supervision of a licensed dentist, but this section shall
not be construed to authorize a dental assistant to practice dentistry or dental hygiene.
The board shall not adopt rules that delegate to a dental assistant the administration of
local anesthesia or the removal of plaque, stain, calculus, or hard natural material except
by toothbrush, floss, or rubber cup coronal polish. Every licensed dentist who utilizes
the services of a dental assistant for the purpose of assistance in the practice of dentistry
shall be responsible for acts delegated to the dental assistant. A dentist shall delegate to a
dental assistant only those acts which are authorized to be delegated to dental assistants
by the board. For the purposes of this section, “dental assistant” includes registered dental
assistants and dental assistants without a certificate of registration.