The bill aims to enhance access to patient care by expanding preventive dental services through the establishment of a new licensing category for oral preventive assistants. It introduces a new section to chapter 18.260 RCW, outlining the requirements for obtaining a license, which include payment of fees, submission of personal information, and completion of approved training. Additionally, the bill mandates the commission to adopt rules defining the scope of services that oral preventive assistants can perform under the supervision of licensed dentists, which includes dental assisting tasks, periodontal probing, and dental prophylaxis for patients with healthy oral conditions.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws to clarify the scope of dental assisting services and the supervision required for dental assistants. It specifies that dental assistants may perform certain tasks under close supervision, with exceptions for sterilization procedures that can be done under general supervision. The amendments also include provisions for the commission to establish renewal requirements for credentials, including continuing education for both oral preventive assistants and expanded function dental auxiliary licenses. Overall, the bill seeks to improve preventive dental care access while ensuring that the necessary training and supervision standards are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.260.040, 18.260.090