Minnesota Administrative Rules

3100.8500 LICENSED DENTAL ASSISTANTS.

Subpart 1.

Procedures under general supervision.

A licensed dental assistant may perform the following procedures without the dentist being present in the dental office or on the premises if the dentist has prior knowledge of and has consented to the procedures being performed:

A.

cut arch wires on orthodontic appliances;

B.

remove loose bands on orthodontic appliances;

C.

remove loose brackets on orthodontic appliances;

D.

re-cement intact temporary crowns or restorations;

E.

place temporary fillings, not including temporization of inlays, onlays, crowns, and bridges;

F.

take radiographs;

G.

take impressions and bite registration;

H.

fabricate and deliver custom fitted trays;

I.

place and remove elastic orthodontic separators;

J.

complete preliminary charting of the oral cavity and surrounding structures with the exception of periodontal structures;

K.

take photographs extraorally or intraorally;

L.

take vital signs such as pulse rate and blood pressure as directed by a dentist;

M.

obtain informed consent, according to part 3100.9600, subpart 9, for treatments authorized by the supervising dentist pursuant to the licensed dental assistant's scope of practice;

N.

remove and place ligature ties and remove and replace existing arch wires on orthodontic appliances; and

O.

apply topical fluoride, including foam, gel, or varnish.

Subp. 1a.

Procedures under indirect supervision.

A licensed dental assistant, in addition to the services performed by an assistant described in part 3100.8400, subpart 1, may perform the following services if a dentist is in the office, authorizes the procedures, and remains in the office while the procedures are being performed:

A.

apply topical medications including bleaching agents, desensitizing agents, and cavity varnishes as prescribed by a dentist;

B.

place and remove devices or materials for isolation purposes;

C.

remove excess cement from inlays, crowns, bridges, and orthodontic appliances with hand instruments only;

D.

perform mechanical polishing to clinical crowns, not including the removal of calculus by instrumentation;

E.

preselect orthodontic bands;

F.

place and remove periodontal dressings;

G.

remove sutures;

H.

monitor a patient who has been induced by a dentist into nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia;

I.

place initial arch wires on orthodontic appliances. A dentist must select and, if necessary, adjust arch wires prior to placement;

J.

dry root canals with paper points;

K.

place cotton pellets and temporary restorative materials into endodontic access openings;

L.

etch appropriate enamel surfaces and apply and adjust pit and fissure sealants;

M.

perform restorative procedures as permitted in Minnesota Statutes, section 150A.10, subdivision 4;

N.

maintain and remove intravenous lines while under indirect supervision of a dentist who holds a valid general anesthesia or moderate sedation certificate. Before managing and removing intravenous lines, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed board-approved allied dental personnel courses comprised of intravenous access and general anesthesia and moderate sedation training and be certified by the board; and

O.

monitor a patient during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of general anesthesia or moderate sedation using noninvasive instrumentation such as pulse oximeters, electrocardiograms, blood pressure monitors, and capnography while under indirect supervision of a dentist who holds a valid general anesthesia or moderate sedation certificate. Before monitoring a sedated patient, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed board-approved allied dental personnel courses comprised of intravenous access and general anesthesia and moderate sedation training and be certified by the board.

Subp. 1b.

Procedures under direct supervision.

A licensed dental assistant may perform the following services if a dentist is in the dental office, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure, and evaluates the performance of the licensed dental assistant before dismissing the patient:

A.

remove excess bond material from orthodontic appliances;

B.

remove bond material from teeth with rotary instruments after removal of orthodontic appliances. Before utilizing rotary instruments for the removal of bond material, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed a course in the use of rotary instruments for the express purpose of the removal of bond material from teeth through a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation;

C.

etch appropriate enamel surfaces before bonding of orthodontic appliances by a dentist;

D.

fabricate, place, replace, cement, and adjust temporary crowns or restorations;

E.

remove temporary restorations with hand instruments only;

F.

place and remove matrix systems and wedges;

G.

administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia according to part 3100.3600, subpart 15;

H.

attach prefit and preadjusted orthodontic appliances;

I.

remove fixed orthodontic bands and brackets;

J.

initiate and place an intravenous line in preparation for intravenous medications and sedation while under direct supervision of a dentist who holds a valid general anesthesia or moderate sedation certificate. Before initiating and placing an intravenous line, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed board-approved allied dental personnel courses comprised of intravenous access and general anesthesia and moderate sedation training and be certified by the board; and

K.

place nonsurgical retraction material for gingival displacement. Before placing nonsurgical retraction material, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed a course in nonsurgical retraction material for gingival displacement at a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Subp. 1c.

Procedures under personal supervision.

A licensed dental assistant may concurrently perform supportive services if the dentist holds a valid general anesthesia or moderate sedation certificate, is personally treating a patient, and authorizes the licensed dental assistant to aid in the physical management of medications, including the preparation and administration of medications into an existing intravenous line. Before administering any medications or agents, a licensed dental assistant must have successfully completed board-approved allied dental personnel courses comprised of general anesthesia and moderate sedation training and be certified by the board.

Subp. 2.

Procedures requiring more coursework or in-office training and procedures prohibited.

A.

If any delegated procedure in this part specifically indicates a requirement to complete additional coursework, the licensed dental assistant must complete the coursework to perform the procedure. All remaining delegated procedures listed are within the scope of practice for a licensed dental assistant with, if necessary, some required in-office training by the supervising dentist.

B.

A licensed dental assistant must not perform any dental treatment or procedure on patients not otherwise authorized by this chapter.

Subp. 3.

[Repealed, 46 SR 908]

Statutory Authority:

MS s 150A.04; 150A.06; 150A.08; 150A.10; 214.06

History:

10 SR 1612; 16 SR 2314; 18 SR 2042; 20 SR 2474; 27 SR 1836; 31 SR 1238; 35 SR 459; 37 SR 1849; 39 SR 1455; 43 SR 507; 46 SR 908

Published Electronically:

March 17, 2022