New Mexico Dental Assistant Requirements

To perform expanded functions under the general supervision of a licensed dentist in New Mexico, a dental assistant must earn state certification in each of the desired expanded functions. To qualify, one must:

Rubber cup coronal polishing and application of topical fluoride:

1. Study by independent preparation or in a training course in the functions and assist with/observe five cases of rubber cup coronal polishing on children and adults and five applications of topical fluoride on children, AND

2. Pass DANB’s Coronal Polish exam and DANB’s Topical Fluoride exam, AND

3. Apply to the New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care for advanced certification in coronal polishing and application of topical fluoride, AND

4. Pass the New Mexico Jurisprudence (take-home) exam, AND

5. Perform rubber cup coronal polishing on five adults and children and application of topical fluoride on five children while being personally observed by a licensed dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant certified in rubber cup coronal polishing and application of topical fluoride.

Pit and Fissure Sealants:

1. Have 2,080 hours of dental assisting chairside experience in the two years prior to application, AND

2. Study by independent preparation or in a training course in the function, AND

3. Assist with/observe 12 cases of application of pit and fissure sealants, AND

4. Pass DANB’s Sealants exam, AND

5. Apply to the New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care for advanced certification in pit and fissure sealants, AND

6. Pass the New Mexico Jurisprudence (take-home) exam, AND

7. Apply pit and fissure sealants on five patients while being personally observed by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist.

Holders of state-certification in dental assisting expanded functions and EFDAs must have formal training in infection control from a course approved in accordance with New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care rules and regulations.

Note: Holding a current DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification automatically qualifies a dental assistant to apply for state certification for each of these expanded functions.

A dental assistant who is certified to perform dental radiography, coronal polishing, pit and fissure sealants, and/or topical fluoride procedures in another state with requirements not less stringent than those in New Mexico may apply for state certification based on credentials (see New Mexico Rules and Regulations, section 16.5.33.13 for details).