Amendment to C Policy Dental Hygiene and Assisting

Resolution 403RC-2014 — Adopted
Sponsors
Reference Committee on Governance
Financial Impact
None
Resolution
Resolved, that the American Student Dental Association amend the following C policy on Dental Hygiene and Assisting to read as follows:

C-1 Expanded Functions of Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists (1973, revised 1991, 1994, 2000, 2005)
The American Student Dental Association endorses expanded functions for dental auxiliaries only when each has received the appropriate education and training to guarantee competence, and when such functions fall within the laws established by their respective state of employment.

It is incumbent on the profession to assure that expanded functions for dental auxiliaries will not adversely affect the health and well-being of the public.

C‐2 Functions of Dental Providers
The American Student Dental Association believes that the dentist is the only dental provider who should perform the following functions.

    a.    Examination, diagnosis and treatment planning
    b.    Prescribing work authorizations
    c.    Performing surgical/irreversible dental procedures
    d.    Prescribing drugs and/or other medications

C‐3 Independent Practice (1985)
The American Student Dental Association is strongly opposed to independent dental hygiene practice, and favors the team approach for providing comprehensive dental care.

C‐4 Standards of Dental Hygiene Education (1985, revised 1990, 1993)
The American Student Dental Association is opposed to efforts that seek to train and qualify persons to practice dental hygiene who have not completed an accredited dental hygiene program or the necessary requirements of an accredited dental school and the associated state licensing agency.
 
C‐5 Accreditation of Dental Programs (2010)
The American Student Dental Association supports Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) evaluation for accreditation of all programs that train dental providers to perform irreversible procedures.