- What does scaling for the Plaque-Induced Gingivitis patients encompass?
- Are these all the services that an OPA may provide?
- Once a dental assistant completes OPA training, can s/he perform as a dental assistant?
- What education/training will be required for the OPA?
- How long is the program?
- What is the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)?
- What are the eligibility requirements for taking DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant examination?
- When will the OPA curriculum be available?
- Why do the dental assistants have to go through accredited programs or pass the Dental Assisting National Boards (DANB) to enroll in the program?
- Where can individuals get this training?
- What are the recommended supervision levels for the OPA?
- Will certification/licensure be required for an OPA?
1. Why is the American Dental Association (ADA) developing a new personnel category of Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA)?
The ADA has been very proactive with their workforce development models focusing on the treatment needs of the entire population. As a result, the 2006 House of Delegates has directed the development of new workforce positions to support the dental profession and expansion of the current workforce scope of practice. The OPA Program is designed as a defined capability set to cover a particular preventive treatment need. The OPA provides preventive services for patients exhibiting relatively uncomplicated plaque-induced gingivitis. The dental hygienist and the dentist then can concentrate on patients with more complicated needs. This will lead to increased access, increased efficiency and more cost effective care both for the patient and the provider.
Return to Top
2. Where will the OPA work?
The OPA has two potential points of impact. The first is within the private dental office. The OPA has the skills to provide a wide variety of preventive services within the dental office, allowing the dentist and/or dental hygienist to provide care to patients requiring services that are more complex. Ultimately, this will provide the opportunity to treat more patients. The second area of impact is that the OPA will have expertise in providing patient oral health education. This will permit the OPA to work directly in schools, community health centers and other appropriate venues to raise oral health literacy and educate patients. Based on state regulations, the OPA may also be able to deliver preventive services, e.g., sealants, fluoride applications, in these settings.
Return to Top
3. What are some of the services that OPAs will provide?
Collection of diagnostic data such as: medical histories, vital signs, charting, radiographs; preventive services for all types of patients, including: preventive and oral hygiene instruction, application of fluoride and sealants, coronal polishing for all patients, scaling for plaque induced gingivitis patients; and general office duties including: facilitate basic legal and regulatory compliance, e.g., HIPAA, maintain patient treatment records, managing a recall system.
Return to Top
4. What does scaling for the plaque-induced gingivitis patients encompass?
The patients who may receive services by an OPA are those who present with a plaque-induced gingivitis. Specifically, these patients exhibit no attachment loss. Bleeding may or may not be present. Pseudo pockets may be present. The gingival tissues only have been affected by the inflammatory process. The overseeing dentist will assign patients to the OPA.
Return to Top
5. Are these all the services that an OPA may provide?
Duties assigned to the OPA may vary from state to state based on duties currently assigned to dental assistants. Specific education and credentialing (licensure/ certification) requirements are determined by the state boards of dentistry and/or legislatures. The OPA services may be provided by the creation of a new category of allied dental personnel (OPA) or added to an existing certification/licensure category.
Return to Top
6. Once a dental assistant completes OPA training, can s/he perform as a dental assistant?
Absolutely, this is an expansion of the capabilities/duties for a dental assistant. That does not preclude the individual from performing as a chairside dental assistant. In a more remote or rural location this individual with the expanded capability set may be perfect for a environment where the practice uses both roles; preventive services for the gingivitis patients to include the oral hygiene instruction, and assist chairside as the dentist does more involved procedures. The task force sees this training as a step on the career ladder for the dental assistant.
Return to Top
7. What education/training will be required for the OPA?
The OPA model requires the development of a new educational program that will encompass approximately a three-month time period to complete based on the following eligibility requirements:
- Graduate of an accredited dental assisting program (accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); or
- Certified Dental Assistant by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB); or
- Graduate of a non-accredited (by CODA) dental education program who is a Certified Dental Assistant by DANB; or
- On-the-job trained dental assistant who is a Certified Dental Assistant by DANB.
The training will require both didactic and clinical elements with an emphasis on not only the preventive care directly rendered to patients, but patient education, teaching and communication techniques. Distance learning combined with clinical experience will be recommended for the delivery of the training in addition to delivery of the curriculum by traditional educational programs. Allied dental educational programs should consider granting credit or advanced standing for previously completed course work in lieu of program requirements.
Return to Top
8. How long is the program?
Approximately three months of equivalent full-time study. In comparing curriculums for the proposed OPA capabilities and the existing standards for the CODA accredited dental assisting education programs, it was felt that the OPA Program could be developed as a certification/certificate program that would be an extension of existing CODA accredited dental assisting programs or would be made available to individuals who have been trained on-the-job and have displayed knowledge and skills of dental assisting through successful completion of the DANB Certified Dental Assistant examination. By way of example, the military has had successful “Prophy Technician” programs for years. The time frame for these military personnel is generally an additional three months added on their dental assisting programs.
Return to Top
9. What is the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)?
The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. is the certifying board for dental assistants recognized by the American Dental Association. DANB is located in Chicago, IL - www.danb.org
DANB offers a variety of certification examinations. Eligibility requirements for entry into the OPA curriculum require completion of the DANB Certified Dental Assistant examination. This is a four-hour exam consisting of 320 multiple-choice items. The exam includes items covering three components; general chairside, radiation health and safety and infection control and occupational health and safety protocols based on the current OSHA Standards and CDC Guidelines.
Return to Top
10. What are the eligibility requirements for taking DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant examination?
There are three pathways to certification:
CDA Pathway I: 1) graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene education program and 2) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate from a DANB-accepted CPR course earned within two years prior to the exam date.
CDA Pathway II: 1) high school graduation or equivalent and 2) minimum of two (2) years full-time work experience (at least 3,500 hours accumulated over a continuous 24-month period) as a dental assistant verified by a dentist employer or at least 3,500 hours of a combination of continuous full- and/or part-time work experience earned over a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months as a dental assistant verified by a dentist-employer and 3) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate from a DANB-accepted CPR course earned within two years prior to the exam date.
CDA Pathway III: 1)a) Status as a current or former CDA or 1)b) graduation from a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD program or 1)c) graduation from a foreign dental degree program and 2) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate from a DANB-accepted CPR course earned within two years prior to the exam date.
Return to Top
11. When will the OPA curriculum be available?
The curriculum will be available by fall 2008 and reported to the 2008 House of Delegates. The curriculum and associated recommendations for implementation will be offered to state associations for their use. Individual state boards of dentistry and/or legislatures will determine specific duties to be delegated as well as education and credentialing requirements for this personnel category.
Return to Top
12. Why do the dental assistants have to go through accredited programs or pass the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) to enroll in the OPA program?
This is a new level of provider for the dental profession. Eligibility through the above two pathways provides for a student with significant background in dental assisting along with a level of observed clinical experience in the dental office or by program faculty to ensure that the OPA competencies are achieved.
Return to Top
13. Where can individuals get this training?
The OPA curriculum will be made available to states wishing to implement the program. States may choose to implement all or some of the OPA functions. The ADA suggests multiple options for delivery of the OPA training. Examples include:
- On-line didactic and clinical instruction offered on a full- or part-time basis, through a partnership between the ADA and an accredited dental assisting education program;
- On-line didactic and clinical instruction offered on a full- or part-time basis, through a partnership between a state dental association and an accredited dental assisting education program; or
- On-line didactic and clinical instruction offered via a continuing education program through the ADA or a state dental association.
Return to Top
14. What are the recommended supervision levels for the OPA?
Given the nature of the OPA position, two levels of supervision are appropriate, based upon the nature of the procedure performed. For those procedures that involve rendering direct patient care, direct or indirect supervision is required (as approved by procedure and as determined by each state board and state law). For the patient education functions, general supervision is recommended.
Return to Top
15. Will certification/licensure be required for an OPA?
States will determine eligibility, training, and certification and/or licensure requirements specific for their state. Individuals completing the training recommended by the ADA will receive a certificate of completion.
Return to Top
|
