Dental Assistant Requirements in Indiana

September 3, 2023
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By: Natalie Kaweckyj, LDA, RF, CDA, CDPMA, COA, COMSA, CPFDA, CRFDA, MADAA, BA

Are you looking to become a dental assistant or are moving as a current dental assistant? Make sure to check the dental assistant requirements in Indiana to see if you are still qualified in the state to practice.

Each state has different requirements for dental assistants, here are the levels, and functions permitted for dental assistants in Indiana.

Levels of Dental Assistants in Indiana

  1. Dental Assistant
  2. Dental Assistant Qualified in Coronal Polishing
  3. Dental Assistant Qualified in Applying Medicaments for the Control of Prevention of Dental Caries
  4. Dental Assistant Qualified in Administering Nitrous Oxide

1. Dental Assistant

A dental assistant in Indiana may perform basic supportive dental procedures specified by the state dental practice act under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting except for radiography requirements.

2. Dental Assistant Qualified in Coronal Polishing

To qualify to polish the coronal surfaces of the teeth, a dental assistant must:

  • Be employed in a dental practice for a minimum of one year and complete an educational program approved by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry that includes the following instruction in coronal polishing:
  • 5 hours of didactic instruction meeting Board curriculum requirements
  • 2 hours of laboratory work
  • Performance of the task on five patients under the observation of a licensed dentist or dental hygienist
  • An affidavit certifying competency signed by the supervising dentist

OR

  • Graduate from an educational program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) that included instruction meeting the above requirements AND
  • Display the certificate of completion of the education program publicly in the dental office.

A dental assistant who has completed an out-of-state dental assisting program in applying medicaments for the control and prevention of dental caries must provide a syllabus of coursework successfully completed; coursework must be equal to or greater than that required by Indiana rules, or the dental assistant must complete laboratory and clinical requirements in Indiana and obtain a certificate of completion from an Indiana CODA-accredited or Board-approved program; the dental assistant must display CODA-accredited program diploma or certificate of completion from Board-approved course publicly in the dental office.

3. Dental Assistant Qualified in Applying Medicaments for the Control of Prevention of Dental Caries

To qualify to apply medicaments for the control or prevention of dental caries (i.e., apply topical fluoride), a dental assistant must:

  • Be employed in a dental practice for a minimum of one year and complete an educational program approved by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry that includes the following instruction in the prevention of dental caries:
  • 9 hours of didactic instruction meeting Board curriculum requirements
  • 2 hours of laboratory work
  • Performance of the task on five patients under the observation of a licensed dentist or dental hygienist
  • An affidavit certifying competency signed by the supervising dentist

OR

  • Graduate from an educational program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) that included instruction meeting the above requirements AND
  • Display the certificate of completion of the education program publicly in the dental office

4. Dental Assitant Qualified in Administering Nitrous Oxide

To qualify to administer nitrous oxide, a dental assistant must:

  • Be employed in a dental practice for a minimum of one year OR graduate from a CODA-accredited educational program, AND
  • Complete a CODA-accredited course that includes the following:
    • 3 hours of didactic instruction meeting state curriculum requirements
    • Demonstration of clinical competence on at least five (5) patients under the direct supervision of a licensed Indiana dentist in good standing
    • An affidavit certifying competency signed by the supervising dentist AND
    • Display the certificate of completion of the education program publicly in the dental office

Indiana Board of Dentistry Statutes and Rules Indiana Administrative Code – Dental Assistants

Radiography Requirements in Indiana

To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Indiana, a dental assistant must obtain a limited dental radiographic license from the Indiana State Department of Health/Division of Medical Radiology Services.

To obtain this license one must:

Apply to the Indiana State Department of Health/Division of Medical Radiology Services for a limited radiographic license.

Note: The Indiana State Department of Health also issues student dental radiography permits and provisional radiography permits.

Information gathered from DaleFoundation.org

Photo by Josh Hild

Natalie Kaweckyj

Natalie Kaweckyj

Natalie Kaweckyj, BA, LDA, CDA, RF, CDPMA, COA, COMSA, CPFDA, CRFDA, MADAA, is a senior moderator of the Dental Peeps Network and a past president of the ADAA.

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