Dental Assistant Requirements for Oregon

November 22, 2024
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By: Ronda Holman

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 Oregon 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 Oregon.

Levels of Dental Assistants in Oregon

There are eight levels of dental assistants in OR:

  1. Dental Assistant
  2. Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA)
  3. Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) with Restorative Functions Certificate
  4. Expanded Function Orthodontic Dental Assistant (EFODA)
  5. Expanded Function Preventative Dental Assistant (EFPDA)
  6. Anesthesia Monitor
  7. Anesthesia Dental Assistant
  8. Anesthesia Dental Assistant with IV Therapy Certificate

Here are the dental assistant requirements in Oregon for each level.

1. Dental Assistant

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

2. Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA)

To perform expanded functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn an Oregon Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) certificate. To qualify, one must satisfy one of the following pathways to certification:

Pathway I:

Pathway II:

  • Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency (see requirements above), AND
    • Pass the national DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam*, AND
    • Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions – General Dental Assisting (ORXG) exam* (administered by DANB), AND
    • Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has completed clinical requirements, AND
    • Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway IIIA:

Pathway IIIB:

Pathway IV:

  • Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s requirements or obtain verification from a licensed dentist of having been employed (in a state other than Oregon) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing expanded functions, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate by credential (administered by DANB).

Note: An EFDA may apply pit and fissure sealants and temporary soft relines to full dentures upon successful completion of a course of instruction (in the desired expanded function) in a CODA-accredited program or another course of instruction approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry.

Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses, or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry.

3. Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) with Restorative Functions Certificate

To perform placement and finishing of direct restorations, except gold foil, under the indirect supervision of a dentist, subject to OBD regulations, an EFDA must hold a Restorative Functions certificate. To qualify, an EFDA must:

  • Complete an OBD-approved restorative functions curriculum from a CODA-accredited program, AND
  • Pass the WREB Restorative Exam (or other equivalent exam approved by the OBD) within the five years preceding application, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon Restorative Functions certificate (administered by DANB), OR
  • If the applicant passed the WREB Restorative Exam or other equivalent OBD-approved exam more than five years before application, submit verification from another state or jurisdiction where the applicant is legally authorized to perform restorative functions and verification from the supervising dentist of successful completion of at least 25 restorative procedures within the immediate five years preceding application, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon Restorative Functions certificate (administered by DANB.)

4. Expanded Function Orthodontic Dental Assistant (EFODA)

To perform expanded orthodontic functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn status as an Expanded Function Orthodontic Dental Assistant (EFODA). To qualify, one must successfully complete all of the following requirements in ONE of the following four pathways:

Pathway I:

Pathway II:

Pathway IIIA:

Pathway IIIB:

Pathway IV:

  • Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s requirements or obtains verification from a licensed dentist of having been employed (in a state other than OR) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing expanded orthodontic functions, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon EFODA certificate by credential (administered by DANB).

5. Expanded Function Preventative Dental Assistant (EFPDA)

To perform expanded preventive functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn an Oregon Expanded Function Preventive Dental Assistant (EFPDA) certificate. To qualify, one must:

Pathway I:

  • Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency (see requirements above), AND
  • Successfully complete a course of instruction in a program accredited by CODA, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway II:

Pathway III:

Pathway IV:

  • Be certified in another state with requirements similar to Oregon’s, OR Obtain verification from a licensed dentist of having been employed (outside the state of Oregon) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing the permitted expanded preventive functions, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate by credential (administered by DANB).

6. Anesthesia Monitor

To perform the duties of an Anesthesia Monitor, a dental assistant must:

  • Receive training in monitoring patients under sedation and be capable of assisting with procedures, problems, and emergency incidents that may occur as a result of the sedation or secondary to an unexpected medical complication, AND
  • Maintain current certification in BLS for Healthcare Providers Basic Life Support (BLS)/Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training or equivalent, AND
  • Receive training in monitoring vital signs, AND
  • Be competent in the use of monitoring and emergency equipment appropriate for the level of sedation utilized.

7. Anesthesia Dental Assistant

A dental assistant in OR must hold state certification as an Anesthesia Dental Assistant in order to perform specified anesthesia assisting functions. To qualify, one must:

  • Hold a current Health Care Provider BLS/CPR certification, AND
  • Successfully complete the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Anesthesia Assistants Program* conducted by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, OR
  • Successfully complete the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Assistants Course* conducted by the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, OR
  • Have passed the DANB Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant (COMSA) exam* (prior to the discontinuation of the COMSA exam in 2000), OR
  • The Resuscitation Group – Anesthesia Dental Assistant course OR
  • Other course approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry, AND
  • Apply for the Oregon Anesthesia Dental Assistant certificate (administered by DANB).

8. Anesthesia Dental Assistant with IV Therapy Certificate

To initiate intravenous (IV) lines in Oregon for a patient being prepared for IV medications, sedation or general anesthesia under the indirect supervision of a dentist holding the appropriate anesthesia permit, an Anesthesia Dental Assistant must earn an additional endorsement. To qualify, an Anesthesia Dental Assistant must:

Oregon Board of Dentistry

Radiography Dental Assistant Requirements in Oregon

To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures under general supervision* in OR, a dental assistant must meet the following requirements and hold a state certificate of radiologic proficiency.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Oregon Board of Dentistry no longer requires applicants for the Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate to pass the Oregon Clinical Radiologic Proficiency Exam formerly administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Dental assistants seeking to earn the certificate must now submit verification of proficiency as described under “submit verification**”.

Complete all of the following three requirements and apply to DANB for a state certificate of radiologic proficiency:

  • Complete a course approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD)*, or
  • Submit evidence of equivalent training recognized by the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Protection, Radiation Protection Services; AND
  • Pass the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, AND
  • Submit verification** from an Oregon-licensed dentist or Oregon-licensed dental hygienist that the assistant is proficient to take radiographs.

*The DALE Foundation’s DANB RHS Review course is approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry and meets the course requirement to earn the Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate. For a complete list of accepted radiography courses, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at information@oregondentistry.org

**Note: A dentist or dental hygienist may authorize a dental assistant who has completed the course and written exam requirements described above to perform radiographic procedures under the indirect supervision of a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant who holds an Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate. Within 6 months of beginning to expose radiographs, as authorized by an Oregon-licensed dentist or Oregon-licensed dental hygienist, the dental assistant must submit verification from an Oregon-licensed dentist or dental hygienist that the assistant is proficient to take radiographs.

  • Complete one of the following two requirements and apply to DANB for a state certificate of radiologic proficiency by credential:
    • Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s, OR
    • Obtain verification from an employer dentist that the assistant has been employed for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant (in a state other than Oregon) and is competent to take radiographs.

Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses, and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses, or programs.

For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry

Photo by Sharefaith

Ronda Holman

Ronda Holman

Ronda Holman found her passion for dental assisting while in the Air Force. She assisted in oral surgery, general dentistry, and ended her four-year service as a prophy tech, the military’s version of a dental hygienist. She married and spent 13 years traveling the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Each time Ronda relocated she got the opportunity to work in a new dental office, where she picked up pearls that have helped her become an expert in educating dental assistants. Her interests are immediate denture/partial fabrication, CEREC technology, patient education, and striving for optimal chairside skills. Ronda believes that every dental assistant has the potential to be a rock star assistant if given the right tools and guidance.

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