The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not require, and the Board of Dentistry does not issue, a license to practice dental assisting. Therefore, no state application or approval process is required for someone to begin working as a dental assistant in Kentucky. Instead, dental assistants need only to maintain CPR certification and be registered with the Board. However, the responsibility to register assistants and document CPR training belongs to the employer dentist. Registration simply means the dentist must update the names of their dental assistants as part of their license renewal process every two years. No action is required on the part of the assistant. See the complete dental assisting regulation at
201 KAR 8:571.
General Duties
Kentucky defines Dental Assistant as "a person who is directly involved with the care and treatment of a patient under the direct supervision of a dentist and performs reversible procedures delegated by a dentist licensed in the Commonwealth." Therefore, dental assistants may not perform any procedures that typically require the professional competence of a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist. This includes but is not limited to:
- The practice of dental hygiene or the use of instruments which remove deposits or accretions from the teeth
- Diagnosis of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the oral cavity
- Treatment planning and prescribing, or authorization for oral appliances
- Surgery or any other procedure that contributes to an irreversible alteration of the oral anatomy
- Administering injectable medication or anesthesia, unless otherwise authorized by law