20:43:08:02.  Dental assistant -- Duties. Subject to the supervising dentist exercising full responsibility, a dental assistant may perform duties or procedures incidental to patient care, including intraoral services or assisting in the performance of clinical or clinical-related duties, if the duties or procedures are performed under direct or indirect supervision of a dentist or personal supervision of a dental hygienist.

 

          Subject to the supervising dentist exercising full responsibility, a dental assistant may perform the following duties or procedures if the supervising dentist is not present in the dental clinic, but has prior knowledge of and has authorized the performance:

 

          (1)  Making impressions or obtaining digital records for casts and appliances;

          (2)  Creating or delivering vacuum-formed orthodontic retainers;

          (3)  Taking photographs extraorally or intraorally;

          (4)  Cutting long or broken wires;

          (5)  Removing loose bands, clasps, or brackets on orthodontic appliances or retainers;

          (6)  Removing and replacing existing ligature ties and arch wires on orthodontic appliances;

          (7)  Removing existing and replacing lost or missing elastic orthodontic separators;

          (8)  Recementing existing provisional restorations;

          (9)  Manipulating dental software for designing restorations;

          (10)  Duties or procedures that involve infection control; and

          (11)  Taking vital signs and updating health history.

 

          Source: 19 SDR 32, effective September 6, 1992; 46 SDR 75, effective December 4, 2019.

          General Authority: SDCL 36-6A-14.

          Law Implemented: SDCL 36-6A-14(1)(10), 36-6A-41.

 

          20:43:08:02.01.  Dental assistant -- Prohibited duties. The following list of duties or procedures may not be performed by a dental assistant:

 

          (1)  Placing sealants;

          (2)  Placing nonsurgical retraction materials for gingival displacement;

          (3)  Fabricating provisional restorations;

          (4)  Using electronic instruments for caries detection;

          (5)  Adjusting dentures or partials;

          (6)  Intraoral use of rotary hand instruments or ultrasonic instruments;

          (7)  Any duty or procedure that falls outside of the relevant education, training, and experience of the dental assistant;

          (8)  Any procedure that cannot be performed by a registered dental assistant; and

          (9)  Other duties or procedures prohibited by the board.

 

          Source: 46 SDR 75, effective December 4, 2019.

          General Authority: SDCL 36-6A-14.

          Law Implemented: SDCL 36-6A-14(1)(10), 36-6A-41.