Preventive dental care

AN ACT Relating to improving access to patient care by increasing 1
preventive dental care; amending RCW 18.260.040 and 18.260.090; and 2
adding new sections to chapter 18.260 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.260 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
The commission shall issue a license to practice as an oral 7
preventive assistant to any applicant who: 8
(1) Pays any applicable fees as established by the secretary in 9
accordance with RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.250; 10
(2) Submits, on forms provided by the secretary, the applicant's 11
name, address, and other applicable information as determined by the 12
secretary; and 13
(3) Demonstrates successful completion of oral preventive 14
assistant training approved by the commission with consultation from 15
the dental hygiene examining committee as defined in RCW 18.29.110.16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.260 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
H-0869.1
HOUSE BILL 1680
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Richards, Caldier, Simmons, Walen, Zahn, Goodman,
Eslick, Hunt, Reed, Nance, Hill, Macri, and Timmons
Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on Health Care &
Wellness.
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(1) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the scope of 1
oral preventive assistant services that may be performed by oral 2
preventive assistants under the supervision of a licensed dentist.3
(2) The scope of oral preventive assistant services that the 4
commission identifies in subsection (1) of this section must include:5
(a) Dental assisting services that a dental assistant may perform 6
under the supervision of a licensed dentist; 7
(b) Periodontal probing after initial probing by a dentist or 8
dental hygienist and diagnosis by a dentist; and 9
(c) Dental prophylaxis for patients in a healthy oral state as 10
defined by the commission with consultation from the dental hygiene 11
examining committee as defined in RCW 18.29.110. 12
(3) A dentist may not assign an oral preventive assistant to 13
perform services until the oral preventive assistant has demonstrated 14
skills necessary to competently perform all assigned duties and 15
responsibilities. 16
Sec. 3. RCW 18.260.040 and 2023 c 460 s 17 are each amended to 17
read as follows: 18
(1)(a) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the scope of 19
dental assisting services related to patient care and laboratory 20
duties that may be performed by dental assistants.21
(b) In addition to the services and duties authorized by the 22
rules adopted under (a) of this subsection, a dental assistant may 23
apply topical anesthetic agents. 24
(c) All dental services performed by dental assistants under (a) 25
or (b) of this subsection must be performed under the close 26
supervision of a supervising dentist or supervising dental therapist 27
as the dentist or dental therapist may allow , except for the 28
procedures involving sterilization of dental instruments or 29
equipment, which may be performed under general supervision.30
(2) In addition to any other limitations established by the 31
commission, dental assistants may not perform the following 32
procedures: 33
(a) Any scaling procedure; 34
(b) Any oral prophylaxis, except coronal polishing;35
(c) Administration of any general or local anesthetic, including 36
intravenous sedation; 37
(d) Any removal of or addition to the hard or soft tissue of the 38
oral cavity; 39
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(e) Any diagnosis of or prescription for treatment of disease, 1
pain, deformity, deficiency, injury, or physical condition of the 2
human teeth, jaw, or adjacent structures; and 3
(f) The taking of any impressions of the teeth or jaw or the 4
relationships of the teeth or jaws, for the purpose of fabricating 5
any intra-oral restoration, appliance, or prosthesis, other than 6
impressions allowed as a delegated duty for dental assistants 7
pursuant to rules adopted by the commission. 8
(3) A dentist or dental therapist may not assign a dental 9
assistant to perform duties until the dental assistant has 10
demonstrated skills necessary to perform competently all assigned 11
duties and responsibilities. 12
Sec. 4. RCW 18.260.090 and 2007 c 269 s 8 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
(1) The commission shall issue an initial credential or renewal 15
credential to an applicant who has met the requirements for a 16
credential or deny an initial credential or renewal credential based 17
upon failure to meet the requirements for a credential or 18
unprofessional conduct or impairment governed by chapter 18.130 RCW.19
(2) The commission may adopt rules for renewal requirements for a 20
credential, including continuing education requirements, for oral 21
preventive assistants and expanded function dental auxiliary 22
licenses.23
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