Connecticut State Department of Public Health

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Information Regarding Dental Assistants

IMPORTANT NOTE ON THE REQUIREMENT FOR DENTAL ASSISTANTS TO PASS THE DENTAL ASSISTING NATIONAL BOARD’S (DANB) INFECTION CONTROL EXAMINATION:

  • Current Connecticut dental assistants who have not passed the DANB Infection Control Examination prior to July 1, 2018 still have nine months to receive on the job training by a licensed dentist to prepare for and pass the examination. 

     

  • New Connecticut dental assistants hired after July 1, 2018 have nine months to receive on the job training by a licensed dentist to prepare for and pass the examination if they have not done so already.    

Dental assistants are not licensed, certified or registered by the Department of Public Health.  The following information is provided regarding licensed dentists delegating dental procedures to dental assistants:
 
Pursuant to Section 20-112a, Connecticut General Statutes, a licensed dentist may delegate to dental assistants such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including the taking of dental x-rays if the dental assistant can can demonstrate successful completion of the dental radiation health and safety examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board or a radiation health and safety competency assessment administered by a dental education program in the state that is accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, but such procedures shall be performed under the dentist's supervision and control and the dentist shall assume responsibility for such procedures; provided such assistants may not engage in the:
  • Diagnosis for dental procedures or dental treatment;
  • Cutting or removal of any hard or soft tissue or suturing;
  • prescribing of drugs or medications that require the written or oral order of a licensed dentist or physician;
  • administration of local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents in connection with any dental operative procedure;
  • Taking of any impression of the teeth or jaws or the relationship of the teeth or jaws for the purpose of fabricating any appliance or prosthesis;
  • Placing, finishing and adjustment of temporary or final restorations, capping materials and cement bases; or
  • Practice of dental hygiene.
Please select this link for statutes amended by Public Act 16-66, effective 10/01/2016.