Arizona Dental Practice Act for Dental Assistants

Dental assistants aid dentists and dental hygienists with patient care, but their functions vary from state to state. The Arizona Dental Practice Act specifies duties for dental assistants who work in Arizona dental offices.

Certification

• The Arizona Dental Practice Act requires that dental assistants who operate dental X-ray equipment have an Arizona Radiologic Proficiency Certificate. Before issuing a certificate, a dental assistant must pass two exams administered by the Dental Assisting National Board. The Radiation Health and Safety Exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The Arizona Clinical Radiologic Proficiency Exam tests a dental assistant's ability to X-ray the teeth of a patient.

Testing

• Under the Arizona Dental Practice Act, dental assistants are not permitted to polish patients' teeth unless they receive the Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate. Before issuing a certificate, a dental assistant must pass two tests: a skills test on a patient and a written test administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.

Exemptions

• The Arizona Dental Practice Act does not require training or education to perform basic dental assistant functions, including teaching a patient how to prevent cavities through proper nutrition, applying fluoride to teeth and collecting patient information.