# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 44 — Board of Dental Examiners

### Chapter 01 — Dental Assistants

#### Regulation .04 Dental Assistants Recognized as Qualified in Orthodontics.

*COMAR 10.44.01.04*

A. A dentist may use the services of a dental assistant to perform certain duties if the dental assistant:

  (1) Has successfully completed a Board-approved course of at least 35 hours related to Maryland orthodontic dental assisting; and

  (2) Is certified by the Dental Assisting National Board in orthodontics or was recognized by the Board of Dental Examiners, on or before June 19, 1974, as a dental assistant qualified in orthodontics.

B. If a dental assistant meets the qualifications of §A of this regulation, a dentist may permit the dental assistant qualified in orthodontics to perform the following intraoral tasks, provided that the tasks are performed only in response to a specific instruction from and under direct supervision of a licensed dentist:

  (1) Taking impressions for study models or diagnostic casts;

  (2) Applying topical fluoride;

  (3) Preparing and fitting orthodontic bands;

  (4) Etching;

  (5) Removing excess cement from around orthodontic bands;

  (6) Placing and removing arch wires;

  (7) Cementing of orthodontic bands, placement of bonded attachments, or the removal of cemented or bonded orthodontic bands and attachments:

  (8) Placing elastics and ligatures;

  (9) Selecting headgear;

  (10) Applying desensitizing agents;

  (11) Applying topical anesthesia;

  (12) Constructing athletic mouth guards on models;

  (13) Taking alginate impressions for intraoral appliances;

  (14) Curing by the use of halogen light; and

  (15) Any other duty approved by the Board.

C. A dentist may not use the services of a dental assistant qualified in orthodontics to perform any of the following services on the basis that the dental assistant meets the qualifications of §A of this regulation:

  (1) Examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning;

  (2) Surgery on hard or soft tissues;

  (3) Oral prophylactic procedures, including scaling, root planing, and polishing of teeth with rotary instruments;

  (4) Condensing, carving, or finishing any restoration;

  (5) Administering injectable local anesthesia;

  (6) Applying pit and fissure sealants;

  (7) Initiation of treatment at any time for the correction of malocclusions and malformations of the teeth or jaws;

  (8) Adjusting occlusion of natural teeth, restorations, or appliances;

  (9) Placing an initial surgical dressing;

  (10) Performing vitality tests;

  (11) Preparing temporary crowns;

  (12) Cementing temporary or permanent crowns or restorations;

  (13) Removing temporary crowns;

  (14) Placing or removing retraction cord;

  (15) Placing or removing a rubber dam;

  (16) Placing or removing a matrix band;

  (17) Preparing and fitting stainless steel crowns;

  (18) Drying a root canal;

  (19) Removing or placing a periodontal dressing; and

  (20) Adjusting prosthetic appliances.