New York State had previously mandated that all health workers at state health centers be vaccinated against COVID. Now, New York State has mandated that health workers at all health centers, whether state-owned or not, be vaccinated against COVID. New York State has never extended this mandate to any private practice, whether they are doctor's offices or dentists. The New York State Department of Health has the primary regulatory jurisdiction over the health care facilities it licenses, but would require a law from the Legislature to require vaccines more broadly in other settings.
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, doctors' offices, and other health care facilities. In other states, there are no formal education requirements, and dental assistants learn through on-the-job training. This table shows a list of occupations with responsibilities similar to those of dental assistants. Some states allow dental assistants to polish teeth to remove stains and plaque from enamel or to apply sealants, fluoride, or topical anesthetics.
Therefore, with all my heart, I believe that we need a national certification for all dental assistants in the area of infection control. Learn more about dental assistants by visiting additional resources, such as O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Dental assistants wear safety glasses, surgical masks, protective clothing and gloves to protect themselves and patients from infectious diseases. The educational requirements to obtain DANB certification are that dental assistants must have graduated from an accredited program or have a high school diploma and complete the required amount of work experience.
For example, dental assistants can take the patient's medical history, blood pressure and pulse before a procedure, explain what will be done, and talk to patients about oral care. Dentists will continue to hire dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing dentists to work more efficiently. Dental assistants must follow specific rules and protocols, such as infection control procedures, when helping dentists treat patients. For more information on how to become a certified dental assistant and to get a list of state dental boards, visit.
