Registered Practitioners include dentists, dental specialists, hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists. A dental assistant is not a registered practitioner and does not have a defined Scope of Practise (SOP) under the National Law. They cannot perform ‘restricted dental acts’.
Dental assistants are not required to have completed a training program. However, a dental assistant who has completed a nationally recognised training program (Certificate III or Certificate IV) has the necessary skills and experience to perform certain procedures. The dental practitioner is responsible for the supervision of the dental assistant performing these procedures.
Course Information Links
The website for the national register on vocational education and training (VET) https://training.gov.au/
shows the current nationally recognised training programs in Dental Assisting, as well as the superseded and non-current programs for comparison.
The two current training programs are:
– Certificate III in Dental Assisting Certificate III in Dental Assisting
– Certificate IV in Dental Assisting Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
These above sites also contain links to find registered training organisations (RTOs) approved to deliver this qualification (that is, a list of approved institutions and courses).
Competencies
The national register documents the expected competencies achieved in these courses. While each nationally recognised training program has some core units of competency, there are numerous electives that may be taken. A dental assistant may only perform procedures for which they are trained and competent. A dental assistant may have different competencies depending on which electives he or she has studied.
Electives in Certificate IV include competencies such as:
- Dental radiography
- Oral health promotion
- Assisting in general anaesthesia and conscious sedation
- Dental assisting work with extended duties (this includes taking impressions, taking photographs, and constructing models/impression trays/registration rims)
- Dental practice administration work
- Work with diverse people.
Dentists may be unsure whether a dental assistant is able to perform certain procedures. As a general rule, a dentist should be cautious about allowing a dental assistant to perform any procedure that is normally done by a registered dental practitioner. For those areas that cross over (e.g. taking impressions), the dentist should not allow the dental assistant to perform the procedure unless he or she has that specific competency, and has obtained it in a nationally recognised training program.
ADA NSW Quick Start Guide for Dental Assistants
ADA NSW has produced a ten-part video series for dental assistants to gain an understanding of their roles and responsibilities and some of the key principles that guide safe practice. The topics include: – Introduction; Patient Privacy and Medical History; Professional Presentation and Attire; Orientation to the Treatment Room; Clean and Dirty; Setting up the Treatment Room; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Hand Hygiene; Staying Safe at Work; Cleaning the Treatment Room; and Orientation to the Sterilisation Room. Please view at Dental Assistant Quick Start Guide – 10 Part Video Series – Australian Dental Association NSW
ADA Inc. Policy Statement
2.2.8 – Community Oral Health Promotion: Teeth Whitening (Bleaching) By Persons Other Than Dental Practitioners Click Here.
Further information is available in the ADA NSW Information Sheets listed below. Advisory Information Sheets – Australian Dental Association NSW to view and download them.
- Scope of Practice Information Sheet
- Teeth Whitening/Bleaching Information Sheet
Disclaimer: This is one of a series of Advisory Services information sheets created by ADA NSW. They are intended as general guides that highlight key pieces of information frequently requested. They do not set out to provide comprehensive information about a topic and they are not legal advice. Please be mindful that information provided in these resources can change after the publication date.
