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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a dental assistant to perform coronal |
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polishing and apply a pit and fissure sealant. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 258.002, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A licensed dentist may delegate, under Subsection (a), |
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the performance of a coronal polishing and application of a pit and |
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fissure sealant to a dental assistant certified under Section |
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265.004 [if the dentist is a Medicaid provider or the dentist
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practices in an area determined to be underserved by the Texas
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Department of Health]. Cleansing of the occlusal and smooth |
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surfaces of the teeth by a dental assistant is allowed immediately |
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prior to and for the sole purpose of preparing the tooth area for |
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the placement of pit and fissure sealants or orthodontic bonding |
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resin, and shall not be billed as a prophylaxis. |
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SECTION 2. Section 265.003, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 265.003. PERMITTED DUTIES. (a) A dental assistant |
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who is not professionally licensed may: |
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(1) be employed by and work in the office of a licensed |
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and practicing dentist; and |
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(2) perform one or more delegated dental acts under |
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the direct supervision, direction, and responsibility of the |
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dentist, including the performance of a coronal polishing and |
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application of a pit and fissure sealant. |
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(b) A dental assistant may perform a coronal polishing and |
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apply a pit and fissure sealant under Subsection (a) only if[:
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[(1)] the assistant is certified to perform a coronal |
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polishing and apply a pit and fissure sealant under Section |
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265.004[; and
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[(2) the dentist described by Subsection (a):
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[(A) is a Medicaid provider; or
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[(B)
practices in an area determined to be
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underserved by the Texas Department of Health]. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 265.004, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 265.004. CORONAL POLISHING AND PIT AND FISSURE SEALANT |
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CERTIFICATE. |
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SECTION 4. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 265.004, |
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Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall issue a coronal polishing and pit and |
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fissure sealant certificate to a dental assistant who qualifies |
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under this section. |
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(b) To qualify for a certificate, an applicant must: |
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(1) have at least two years' experience as a dental |
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assistant; and |
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(2) have successfully completed a minimum of 12 [16] |
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hours of clinical and didactic education in coronal polishing and |
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pit and fissure sealants taken through an accredited dental hygiene |
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program or a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission |
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on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and |
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approved by the board. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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