NAC631.220. Dental assistants: Authorization to perform certain services; supervision by dental hygienist for certain purposes.

     1. A dentist who is licensed in the State of Nevada may authorize a dental assistant in his or her employ and under his or her supervision only to do one or more of the following:

     (a) Expose radiographs.

     (b) Retract a patient’s cheek, tongue or other tissue during a dental operation.

     (c) Remove the debris that normally accumulates during or after a cleaning or operation by the dentist by using mouthwash, water, compressed air or suction.

     (d) Place or remove a rubber dam and accessories used for its placement.

     (e) Place and secure an orthodontic ligature.

     (f) Remove sutures.

     (g) Place and remove a periodontal pack.

     (h) Remove excess cement from cemented restorations and orthodontic appliances. A dental assistant may not use a rotary cutting instrument to remove excess cement from restorations or orthodontic appliances.

     (i) Administer a topical anesthetic in any form except aerosol.

     (j) Train and instruct persons in the techniques of oral hygiene and preventive procedures.

     (k) Take the following types of impressions:

          (1) Those used for the preparation of diagnostic models;

          (2) Those used for the preparation of counter or opposing models;

          (3) Those used for the fabrication of temporary crowns or bridges; and

          (4) Those used for the fabrication of temporary removable appliances, provided no missing teeth are replaced by those appliances.

     (l) Fabricate and place temporary crowns and bridges. This procedure must be checked and approved by the supervising dentist before dismissal of the patient from the office of the dentist.

     (m) Retract gingival tissue if the retraction cord contains no medicaments that have potential systemic side effects.

     (n) Remove soft plaque and stain from exposed tooth surfaces, utilizing an appropriate rotary instrument with a rubber cup or brush and a suitable polishing agent. A licensed dentist or dental hygienist shall determine that the teeth to be polished are free of calculus or other extraneous material.

     (o) Administer a topical fluoride.

     (p) Apply pit and fissure sealant to the dentition for the prevention of decay. This procedure must be checked and approved by the supervising dentist before dismissal of the patient from the office of the dentist.

     (q) Fit orthodontic bands and prepare teeth for orthodontic bands if the bands are cemented or bonded, or both, into the patient’s mouth by the dentist who authorized the dental assistant to perform this procedure.

     2. A dentist who is licensed in the State of Nevada may authorize a dental hygienist to supervise a dental assistant in the assistance of the hygienist’s performance of one or more of the following:

     (a) Expose radiographs.

     (b) Retract a patient’s cheek, tongue or other tissue during a dental operation.

     (c) Remove the debris that normally accumulates during or after a cleaning or operation by the dental hygienist by using mouthwash, water, compressed air or suction.

     (d) Train and instruct persons in the techniques of oral hygiene and preventive procedures.

     (e) Remove soft plaque and stain from exposed tooth surfaces, utilizing an appropriate rotary instrument with a rubber cup or brush and a suitable polishing agent. A licensed dentist or dental hygienist shall determine that the teeth to be polished are free of calculus or other extraneous material.

     (f) Administer a topical fluoride.

     3. A dental hygienist, who is authorized by the Board to perform the services described in subsection 5 of NAC 631.210, may authorize a dental assistant under his or her supervision to assist the hygienist in the performance of the services described in paragraphs (a) to (f), inclusive, of subsection 2.

     [Bd. of Dental Exam’rs, § XXII, eff. 7-21-82]—(NAC A 10-21-83; 10-7-85; 4-3-89; 3-11-96; R051-04, 8-25-2004)