Florida

Dental assistants in Florida must have formal training to perform the expanded functions listed in the Practice Act.

To qualify to perform expanded functions, one must:

1. Complete a course or program administered by or developed as part of the regular curriculum at a dental, dental hygiene,or dental assisting educational program accredited by CODA that provided training in the expanded function OR
2. Successfully complete a Florida Board-approved expanded duties formal training program.

Note: The DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification was removed as a pathway to qualify to perform expandedfunctions in Florida effective May 2009. Dental Assistants who were employed in Florida and had earned the CDA certification prior to the effective date of this rule change are “grandfathered in” and are permitted to perform expanded functions in Florida. Contact the Florida Board of Dentistry for specific information about this rule change.

To monitor nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia, a dental assistant must:

1. Complete a course of training of no less than two days as described in the American Dental Association’s “Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Assistants” or equivalent, AND
2. Be certified in an American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or equivalent agency sponsored CPR course at the basic life support level, to include one person CPR, two person CPR, infant resuscitation, obstructed airway, and use of either an Automated External Defibrillator or a defibrillator and electrocardiograph, with a periodic update not to exceed two years.