Dear Members of Board of Dentistry,

It is a great opportunity to have different pathways for a certified dental assistant who is motivated to expand the knowledge and skills to move in their career forward in dentistry to provide standard of care necessary for dental patients.

I am an assistant professor of an accredited dental assisting program, while I fully support expanding duties of trained dental assistants with the knowledge skills of science and art of dentistry, I have reservation with the pathway provided as it is.

I am in support of provision for more pathways to obtain title dental assistant II (DAII), which include proficiency of all state allowable duties as a DAII. However, the pathway that was suggested may not suffice, as it is. It is beneficial to have other options of education such as DANB certifications to include all skilled dental professionals and also it is important to establish a board approved standard performance clinical examination to test clinical skill competencies, which is conducted by an approved educational institute approved by state regulatory board to maintain highest standards of our profession.

Respectfully,

Piumini Wanigasundera BDS, MEd, CDA