Virginia Law

A. A prerequisite for entry into an educational program preparing a person for registration as a dental assistant II shall be current certification as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) conferred by the Dental Assisting National Board or active licensure as a dental hygienist.

B. To be registered as a dental assistant II, a person shall complete a competency-based program from an educational institution that meets the requirements of 18VAC60-30-116. An applicant may be registered as a dental assistant II with specified competencies completed in education as described in this subsection:

1. Didactic coursework in dental anatomy that includes basic histology, understanding of the periodontium and temporal mandibular joint, pulp tissue and nerve innervation, occlusion and function, muscles of mastication, and any other item related to the restorative dental process.

2. Didactic coursework in operative dentistry, to include materials used in direct and indirect restorative techniques, economy of motion, fulcrum techniques, tooth preparations, etch and bonding techniques and systems, and luting agents.

3. Laboratory training to be completed in the following modules:

a. No less than 15 hours of placing, packing, carving, and polishing of amalgam restorations, placement of a non-epinephrine retraction cord, and pulp capping procedures and no less than six class I and six class II restorations completed on a manikin simulator to competency;

b. No less than 40 hours of placing and shaping composite resin restorations, placement of a non-epinephrine retraction cord, and pulp capping procedures, and no less than 12 class I, 12 class II, five class III, five class IV, and five class V restorations completed on a manikin simulator to competency; and

c. At least 10 hours of making final impressions, placement of a non-epinephrine retraction cord, final cementation of crowns and bridges after preparation, and adjustment and fitting by the dentist, and no less than four crown impressions, two placements of retraction cord, five crown cementations, and two bridge cementations on a manikin simulator to competency.

4. Clinical experience applying the techniques learned in the preclinical coursework and laboratory training in the following modules:

a. At least 30 hours of placing, packing, carving, and polishing of amalgam restorations, placement of a non-epinephrine retraction cord, and no less than six class I and six class II restorations completed on a live patient to competency;

b. At least 60 hours of placing and shaping composite resin restorations, placement of a non-epinephrine retraction cord, and no less than six class I, six class II, five class III, three class IV, and five class V restorations completed on a live patient to competency; and

c. At least 30 hours of making final impressions; placement of non-epinephrine retraction cord; final cementation of crowns and bridges after preparation, adjustment, and fitting by the dentist; and no less than four crown impressions, two placements of retraction cord, five crown cementations, and two bridge cementations on a live patient to competency.

5. Successful completion of the following competency examinations given by the accredited educational programs:

a. A written examination at the conclusion of didactic coursework; and

b. A clinical competency exam.