DANB resources for dental office managers

Successful dental offices must stay up-to-date with rapidly changing laws, dental practice acts, and administrative rules for the duties of dental assistants that are both allowed and prohibited. Because dental assisting duties vary widely from state to state, the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) offers resources to help dental office managers stay informed about state and federal compliance issues.

State publications

Each year, DANB publishes two essential publications for learning about state dental assisting requirements. DANB’s 2009 State Fact Booklet provides a synopsis of current state requirements, and excerpts from state dental practice acts related to the dental assistant. The publication also contains the latest state Board of Dentistry contact information, the DANB exams accepted or required in each state, the number of assistants holding DANB Certification or other DANB certificates in that state, comparative salary information, general information on expanded functions and radiography requirements, and a list of Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited dental assisting programs.

DANB’s 2009 State Dental Assistant Career Ladder Templates is a reader-friendly guide that outlines dental assistant requirements and career ladder opportunities for dental assistants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This resource is invaluable to anyone interested in verifying the dental assisting duties prohibited or allowed in a state, or in comparing state requirements. Visit www.danb.org/main/statespecificinfo.asp to download excerpts from the publications.

DANB exams

DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the national certification agency for dental assistants. DANB’s national exams and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification are recognized or required in 37 states plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Air Force, and the Veterans Administration. The CDA exam focuses on general chairside assisting and is DANB's primary certification. In addition to a general chairside component (GC), the CDA exam contains separate components covering radiation health and safety (RHS), and infection control (ICE).

Many states use the CDA exam or one of its component exams as part of dental assisting regulatory requirements. Dental assistants who have passed the ICE exam understand Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, and are knowledgeable about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines for infection control in dental health care settings. Those who have passed the RHS exam are knowledgeable about the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement, OSHA, and CDC guidelines.

In the few states that provide a separate registration for orthodontic assistants, DANB’s Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) exam meets these states’ requirements. The COA exam is comprised of two components — orthodontic assisting (OA) and infection control (ICE). The ICE component exam is interchangeable with the ICE component of the CDA exam or the “stand-alone” DANB ICE exam.

Dental assistants can take the component exams in one sitting, or take them separately to build their DANB Certification. Once a dental assistant passes all three CDA component exams or both COA component exams in a five-year period, he or she earns the CDA or COA certification mark and must earn CDE credits and renew annually. DANB Certification is a tangible way to demonstrate that a dental assistant has met or exceeded the criteria that measures baseline knowledge and national competency standards in the profession.

Hiring strategies

Hiring DANB Certificants can help standardize hiring practices and office protocol, and reduce subjectivity in dental office hiring decisions. DANB Certificants hold current CPR certification, are lifelong learners, and keep up with trends in oral health care through CDE to renew their DANB certification annually. In addition to helping meet state requirements, DANB Certificants demonstrate substantially less job turnover and greater employer loyalty. According to the 2008 DANB Certificant Salary Survey, on average, DANB CDAs stay with the same employer 9.4 years and remain in the dental assisting field for 16.7 years. The stability of DANB Certificants helps create a stronger team orientation in the office. In addition, in some states DANB Certification allows dental assistants to perform expanded duties, thus increasing effectiveness of the dental office.

If you are a dental office manager who wants to hire a CDA, you can request a free mailing list of CDAs in your area. Simply download the mailing list request form at http://www.danb.org/PDFs/MailingListApp.pdf, and attach the job posting or ad with your request. DANB can also help screen applicants by verifying certain credentials (http://www.danb.org/PDFs/CredentialVerification.pdf).

Assessment-based Certificate programs for dental office managers

DANB is excited to launch assessment-based Certificate programs (ABCPs). ABCPs are exams based on specific education components and are available online. For professional dental office managers, ABCPs can help with career enhancement and provide proof of dental office management knowledge.

Beginning in December, the DANB's ABCP: Accounts Receivable will be available for a $50 fee. It is a 90-minute dental office management course and assessment in accounts receivable. Successful completion awards participants with a certificate to print; however, the ABCP is not a certification. To learn more about this distinction, visit www.danb.org/learning starting in December.

Dental practices, like any other business, require accurate maintenance of financial records to be profitable and successful. DANB participants learn about accounts receivable, develop a financial policy applicable to their offices, and demonstrate their knowledge of payment methods, billing stages, and communication skills.

Fellowship programs

Members of the American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) will soon be offered a professional designation that will distinguish them in their field. Fellowship is the highest level of membership in many professional organizations, and is evidence of substantial achievement in the profession. Find out how completing DANB ABCPs can help dental office managers earn Fellowship in AADOM. Visit www.dentalmanagers.com for information on Fellowships, and www.danb.org for information on ABCPs.

The American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), the national membership association for dental assistants, also offers a Fellowship and recognizes DANB Certification as meeting half of the FADAA requirements. Visit www.dentalassist.org for information about requirements and the application process.