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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire.
Levels of Dental Assistants in New Hampshire
There are four levels of dental assistants in NH:
- Traditional Dental Assistant
- DANB Certified Dental Assistant
- Graduate Dental Assistant
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant
1. Traditional Dental Assistant
A traditional dental assistant in New Hampshire may perform basic supportive dental procedures specified by the state dental practice act under the direct or general supervision of a licensed dentist.
There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting. A traditional dental assistant is a dental assistant who is neither a Certified Dental Assistant nor a Graduate Dental Assistant.
2. DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Dental assistants who hold the national DANB CDA certification are qualified in the state of New Hampshire to perform the functions listed in section Den 401.02 of the rules of the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners. For some functions, CDA certificants must also have 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience before performing the function.
3. Graduate Dental Assistant
Graduate Dental Assistants are authorized to perform the functions listed in section Den 401.02 of the rules of the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners. Dental assistants in New Hampshire can earn status as a Graduate Dental Assistant by graduating from a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
4. Dental Assistant Qualified to Perform Expanded Functions
To perform any expanded duty in New Hampshire, with the exception of restorative duties restricted to EFDAs, a dental assistant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age; AND
- Meet the specific prerequisites, course, certification, or experience requirements for each function as listed below:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, OR
- Have at least 200 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in Introduction to Dental Assisting meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE.
- Function: Infection control in the dental office
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, OR
- Successfully complete a course or exam in infection control meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE.
Note: The DALE Foundation’s DANB ICE Review course meets this requirement. Successful performance on DANB’s Infection Control exam [ICE] also meets this requirement.
- Function: Provisional crown and bridge restorations
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in provisional crown and bridge restorations meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; OR
- Have at least 200 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements (see requirements above), AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements above), AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in provisional crown and bridge restorations meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE.
- Function: Orthodontic duties
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in orthodontic duties meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; OR
- Hold DANB’s CDA certification or have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements (see requirements above), AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements above), AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in orthodontic duties meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE.
- Function: Dental sealants
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in dental sealants meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; OR
- Have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements above, AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements on prior page), AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in dental sealants meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE.
- Function: Coronal polishing
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience, AND
- Successfully complete a course and exam in coronal polishing meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; OR
- Have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements (see requirements above), AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements on prior page), AND
- Successfully complete a course and exam in coronal polishing meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE
- Function: Monitoring nitrous oxide administration
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Successfully complete a course and exam in nitrous oxide meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE, AND
- Be currently certified in CPR; OR
- Hold DANB’s CDA certification or have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements (see requirements above), AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements on prior page), AND
- Successfully complete a course and exam in monitoring the administration of nitrous oxide anesthesia meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE, AND
- Function: In-office tooth whitening
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant OR hold DANB’s CDA certification, AND
- Successfully complete a course or exam in in-office tooth whitening meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; OR
- Hold DANB’s CDA certification or have at least 400 hours of clinical dental assisting experience prior to course, AND
- Meet Introduction to Dental Assisting course requirements (see requirements above), AND
- Qualify in infection control (see requirements above), AND
- Successfully complete a course and exam in in-office tooth whitening meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE
Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary
To qualify to place, contour, and adjust direct restorative materials within the oral cavity, one must register as an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (NHBDE).
To register, one must:
- Be at least 18 years of age; AND
- Be a registered dental hygienist or a Graduate Dental Assistant or hold current DANB CDA certification, AND
- Have a minimum of 4,500 hours of dental clinical experience; AND
- Obtain a recommendation for the EFDA course from a NH-licensed dentist; AND
- Complete an EFDA course in dental restorations meeting requirements established by rule of the NHBDE; AND
- Be currently certified in BLS-HCP; AND
- Apply to the NHBDE for an EFDA permit.
Note: A dental auxiliary qualified in these restorative functions in another jurisdiction may qualify for endorsement by the Board by presenting written documentation of equivalent training and a letter from a supervising dentist attesting to experience with direct restorations within the previous two years.
Radiography Requirements for Dental Assistants in NH
To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in New Hampshire, a dental assistant must meet the following requirements shown:
- Be 18 years of age or older, AND
- Be a Graduate Dental Assistant or hold DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, OR
- Complete 200 hours of experience in clinical dental assisting and pass an Introduction to Dental Assisting course and qualify in infection control (see requirements below), AND
- Successfully complete an expanded duty course in dental radiology meeting the requirements established by the rule of the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (NHBDE), AND
- Pass the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam.
New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners
Photo by Mikhail Nilov
