How to Become a Dental Assistant in Kansas

Who can apply

• Kansas does not license, register or certify dental assistants. An unlicensed person may perform dental services under the supervision of a Kansas-licensed dentist at the dentist's office (K.S.A. 65-1423(a)(8)).
• Taking dental x-rays under the supervision of a licensed dentist or physician is exempt from the dental practice act, so there is no state x-ray permit for assistants (K.S.A. 65-1423(a)(7)).
• Unlicensed assistants may not cut or graft tissue, place or adjust final fixed crowns or bridges, root plane, diagnose, prescribe, correct malformations, or give general or local anesthesia.
• Administering and monitoring the analgesic use of nitrous oxide is not counted as 'anesthesia' under the Act (K.S.A. 65-1423).

Step by step

1. Get hired and trained on the job by a Kansas-licensed dentist.
2. For coronal polishing, the dentist must train you in polishing techniques and directly supervise you.
3. For coronal scaling, complete a Board-approved instruction course of at least 90 hours and get the school's certificate.
4. Your certificate must be prominently posted where you do the scaling, and the dentist must report your name and practice location to the Kansas Dental Board within 30 days of your first scaling.

Training and exam

Training: No training program is required for a basic dental assistant. Coronal polishing requires appropriate training in polishing techniques from the delegating dentist (K.A.R. 71-6-6). Coronal scaling requires a Board-approved course of at least 90 hours covering dental anatomy, periodontal disease, plaque and calculus, infection control, oral hygiene, topical fluoride, instruments, coronal scaling (with lab work on mechanical and ultrasonic devices) and coronal polishing, with outcome assessment exams (K.A.R. 71-6-3).

Exam: There is no state exam. The Board-approved coronal scaling course must include one or more outcome assessment exams showing technical and clinical competency.

What it costs in Kansas

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Good to know in Kansas

Coronal scaling limits: Coronal scaling (removing hard deposits above the gum line) must be done under direct supervision, never on a patient under local or general anesthesia, and all subgingival scaling must be done by a licensed hygienist or dentist.

Direct supervision: The dentist is in the office, personally diagnoses and authorizes the procedure, and checks the work (or has another Board licensee check it) before the patient leaves.

No advertising of x-ray services: The x-ray exemption does not allow anyone to advertise dental x-ray services or x-ray machines to attract dental patients.

Sources

• K.S.A. 65-1423 - Act inapplicable to certain practices (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
• K.A.R. 71-6-1 - Definitions (Cornell LII)
• K.A.R. 71-6-2 - Acts restricted (Cornell LII)
• K.A.R. 71-6-3 - Approved instruction course (Cornell LII)
• K.A.R. 71-6-4 - Subgingival scaling (Cornell LII)
• K.A.R. 71-6-5 - Duty to notify board (Cornell LII)
• K.A.R. 71-6-6 - Coronal polishing (Cornell LII)