DANB preventive duties

CHICAGO, Illinois--The Dental Assisting National Board has introduced a new national certification exam program, the Certified Preventive Dental Assistant.

To read more about DANB, go to DANB.

DANB’s CPDA certification is made up of four component exams: Coronal Polish, Sealants, Topical Anesthetic, and Topical Fluoride.

There are no prerequisites to take the individual CP, SE, TA, and TF component exams; however, candidates seeking CPDA certification must apply through one of four eligibility pathways. Please see the CPDA Application Packet for complete eligibility requirements.

Many states are expanding the duties that assistants are allowed to perform. Currently, dental practice acts in 35 states allow or do not prohibit dental assistants to perform all four of the CPDA functions. In total, 43 dental practice acts allow dental assistants to perform coronal polishing procedures, 38 allow dental assistants to apply sealants, 45 allow dental assistants to apply topical fluoride, and 49 allow dental assistants to apply topical anesthetic.

Visit the “State-Specific Information” section of DANB’s website at www.danb.org to learn which states’ dental practice acts and/or administrative rules allow dental assistants to perform these functions, and whether there are state-specific qualifications.

Although each state sets its own requirements to perform preventive duties, DANB offers an objective, reliable, and valid exam to measure knowledge-based competency in coronal polish, sealants, topical anesthetic, and topical fluoride to assist state dental boards in meeting their public protection missions.

DANB has been testing and certifying dental assistants for more than 60 years. Recognized by the American Dental Association as the national certification board for dental assistants, DANB annually tests about 20,000 dental auxiliaries with more than 33,000 DANB certificants nationwide.

DANB’s exams are recognized or required to perform dental assisting duties in 38 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In addition to the CPDA certification, DANB offers the CDA and Certified Orthodontic Assistant national certifications. Covering the important duties that dental assistants perform every day, DANB’s CDA exam includes exams on General Chairside, Radiation Health and Safety, and Infection Control. DANB’s COA exam covers Orthodontic Assisting and ICE.

There are numerous benefits to passing DANB exams and working toward certification, including personal pride, professional status, greater earning power, recognition within the dental community, career advancement, and increased career mobility.

For more information, visit www.danb.org.

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