Dental Assistant Requirements in Alaska

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 Alaska 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 Alaska.

Levels of Dental Assistants in Alaska

1. Dental Assistant
2. Dental Assistant Qualified in Coronal Polishing Procedures and/or Restorative Functions

1. Dental Assistant Requirements in Alaska

A dental assistant in Alaska may perform basic supportive dental procedures specified by the state dental practice act under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist.

Indirect supervision is the type of supervision in which a dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility, has personally diagnosed and treatment planned the condition to be treated, authorizes the procedures, and remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedures are being performed by the dental assistant, and will evaluate the performance of the dental assistant.

Additional specific allowable duties under indirect supervision include application of topical preventive agents and application of pit and fissure sealants. There are no educational or training requirements for this level of dental assisting and therefore not regulated or tracked by the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners (AKBDE).

Allowed and Prohibited Functions for Dental Assistants in Alaska

According to the DANB, here are the procedures that dental assistants in Alabama can and cannot perform:

Functions Allowed for Alaska Dental Assistants

• Apply topical preventative agents
• apply pit and fissure sealants
• Expose and develop dental radiographs
• Perform infection control and occupation safety procedures
• Perform other duties not specified by the state’s dental practice act

Functions Prohibited for Alaska Dental Assistants

• Perform preliminary charting and triage to formulate a dental hygiene assessment and dental hygiene treatment plan
• Remove calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from the exposed surfaces of the teeth beginning at the epithelial attachment by scaling and polishing techniques
• Administer and monitor nitrous oxide-oxygen conscious sedation
• Remove marginal overhangs
• Use local periodontal therapeutic agents
• Perform nonsurgical periodontal therapy
• Administer local anesthetic agents
• Dental diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning, and writing prescriptions for drugs
• Writing authorizations for restorative, prosthetic, or orthodontic appliances
• Operative or surgical procedures on hard or soft tissues
• Other procedures that require the professional competence and skill of a dentist or licensed dental hygienist

2. Dental Assistant Qualified in Coronal Polishing Requirements in Alaska

To perform coronal polishing procedures in Alaska under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, the dental assistant must hold a valid certificate in coronal polishing.

Direct supervision is defined as a dentist licensed in Alaska is in the dental office, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure, and, before dismissal of the patient, evaluates the performance of the dental assistant.

There are two pathways to becoming a DA qualified in coronal polishing procedures.

1. Being licensed or certified to perform the expanded function in another state and be able to provide documentation to the AKBDE. There are several states that allow this expanded function for dental assistants.
2. Submit a completed notarized application and applicable fees to the AKBDE and successfully complete a program of instruction approved by the AKBDE.

The initial application form to be qualified in coronal polishing procedures can be found here.

The course approval application can be found here.

The renewal form for being qualified in coronal polishing procedures can be found here.

Dental Assistant Qualified in Restorative Functions Requirements in Alaska

To perform specified restorative functions in Alaska under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, the dental assistant must hold a valid certificate in restorative functions.

Direct supervision is defined as a dentist licensed in Alaska is in the dental office, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure, and, before dismissal of the patient, evaluates the performance of the dental assistant.

There are two pathways to becoming a DA qualified in restorative functions:

1. Have legal authorization from another state or jurisdiction to perform restorative functions and submit a completed notarized application and applicable fees to the AKBDE. There are a number of states that currently allow dental assistants to perform restorative functions.
2. Successfully completing a course offered by or under the auspices of a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or another equivalent course or program approved by the AKBDE AND Passing the Western Regional Examining Board’s (WREB) restorative examination OR other equivalent examination approved by the AKBDE within the five years preceding the dental assistant’s certificate application.

Resource Links for Qualified Dental Assistants

• The initial application form to be qualified in restorative functions can be found here.
• The renewal form for being qualified in restorative functions can be found here.

Additional Allowed Functions for DAs Qualified in Coronal Polishing Procedures and/or Restorative Functions in Alaska

According to the DANB, here are the additional procedures that qualified dental assistants in Alabama can perform:

• Coronal polishing on teeth without calculus, if the dental assistant holds the Alaska coronal polishing certificate
• Placement of a restoration into a cavity prepared by a licensed dentist and the subsequent carving, contouring, and adjustment of the contacts and occlusion of the restoration, if the dental assistant holds the Alaska restorative functions certificate

Radiography Requirements in Alaska

According to DANB, there are no radiography requirements for dental assistants in the state of Alaska, and all dental assistants may legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform radiographic procedures.

Resource Links for Alaska Dental Assistants:

• Board of Dental Examiners for Alaska
• Alaska Dental Assistant Duties

Photo by Pixabay