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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota.
Levels of Dental Assistants in South Dakota
There are two levels of dental assistants in SD:
1. Dental Assistant
A dental assistant in South Dakota may perform basic supportive dental procedures under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed dentist or the personal supervision of a licensed dental hygienist.
There are no training requirements for this level of dental assisting.
2. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
To perform expanded functions under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in South Dakota, a dental assistant must be registered as a Registered Dental Assistant.
To qualify, one must:
- Be at least 18 years of age AND
- Hold a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer or board-approved equivalent CPR certification AND
- Graduate from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program OR
- Hold current national DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, OR
- Complete a dental assisting education approved program approved by the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry (SDSBD) resulting in a registered dental assistant certificate of competency, OR
- Hold or have held registration to perform expanded functions in another state, AND
- Apply to the SDSBD for licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant.
Applicants who have completed a CODA accredited dental assisting program or obtained a certificate of competency must apply within five years of completion of the program or, if the program was completed more than five years prior to application, must have legally provided expanded functions within five years preceding application. Written documentation verifying the current clinical proficiency of the applicant to perform expanded functions may be required from a dentist who has employed or supervised the applicant within the five years prior to application.
Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant with Training in Starting Intravenous Lines
Registered Dental Assistants and dental assistants may start an intravenous line if they have taken a board-approved anesthesia assisting course and received intravenous line training.
Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant with a permit to monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation
Registered Dental Assistants and dental assistants may apply for a permit to monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation. To qualify, an assistant must:
- Be certified in administering basic life support by the American Heart Association for the Healthcare Provider or the American Red Cross for the Professional Rescuer program AND
- Have completed a SDSBD-approved educational course in anesthetic assisting of at least eight hours within 13 months of application OR
- Have completed a SDSBD-approved educational course in anesthetic assisting (min. 8 hours) more than 13 months prior to application and have legally monitored patients receiving analgesic or anesthetic agents for a period of time during the 2 years preceding application and provide written documentation from an employing/supervising dentist attesting to clinical proficiency.
- Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant with a permit to monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation
Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant qualified in the injection of medication
A dentist holding a permit to administer general anesthesia/deep sedation or moderate sedation may authorize a Registered Dental Assistant or dental assistant, under the personal and direct visual supervision of the dentist and upon the dentist’s verbal command, to inject medication that the supervising dentist has drawn up through an intravenous (IV) site if the following requirements have been met:
- The assistant holds a permit to monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation or moderate sedation, AND
- The assistant has passed the Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Examination (DAANCE) administered by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and is currently DAANCE-certified, AND
- The supervising dentist holds a permit to administer general anesthesia and deep sedation or moderate sedation.
Registered Dental Assistant with permit to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia
A Registered Dental Assistant may apply for a permit to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia under the direct supervision of a dentist. To qualify, a Registered Dental Assistant must:
- Be certified in administering basic life support by the American Heart Association for the Healthcare Provider or the American Red Cross for the Professional Rescuer program, AND
- Have completed an SDSBD-approved educational course meeting specified requirements within 13 months of application, OR
- Have completed an SDSBD-approved educational course more than 13 months prior to application and have legally administered nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia for a period of time during the 3 years preceding application and provide written documentation from an employing/supervising dentist attesting to clinical proficiency.
- Registered Dental Assistant with permit to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia
As you can see with the first forty-two states explored, requirements do vary greatly from one state to the next. Being credentialed in one state or being DANB certified as a CDA does assist in some cases.
For the most up-to-date information (because it is forever changing), please visit the individual state regulating body. Tune in next time for further exploration into the remaining state’s state requirements for dental assistants!
South Dakota Radiography Requirements
To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in South Dakota, an individual must be registered as a Dental Radiographer.
To qualify for registration as a dental radiographer, one must:
- Meet one of the following requirements within 13 months prior to application
- Complete a dental radiography course taken through a dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation OR
- Pass DANB’s Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam OR
- Complete a South Dakota State Board of Dentistry-approved radiography training program OR
- Hold DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, AND
- Submit the application for registration, required documentation, and fee to the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry.
OR
To qualify for dental radiographer registration by endorsement, one must:
- Have been legally practicing dental radiography in another state within the three years before application, AND
- Provide verification of completing a course including at least 16 hours of training in areas outlined in South Dakota rules, AND
- Provide verification of registration number and status from the board of dentistry in each state in which the applicant is or has been registered to practice as a dental radiographer, OR
- If not currently registered as a dental radiographer, verification of having legally practices dental radiography for a period of time during the three years preceding application (written documentation from an employing/supervising dentist attesting to current clinical proficiency of the applicant may be required) AND
- Submit the application for registration, required documentation, and fee to the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry.
Photo by Sonja
