The College of Dental Surgeons of BC (CDSBC) is requesting feedback from stakeholders with regards to a request by the Canadian Dental Assistant Regulatory Authority (CDARA) to develop a common approach to the Orthodontic and Prosthodontic Modules.
Certified dental assistants in BC who successfully complete an Orthodontic or Prosthodontic training program (module) that provides specific training in services outlined in Bylaw sections 8.09 and 8.10 can apply for a designation with CDSBC that allows them to be authorized by a dentist to provide those specific services.
A review of the Orthodontic and Prosthodontic Modules was carried out by a working group of the CDARA who identified significant variation between provincial jurisdictions in not only the training programs but also the activities allowed. The interprovincial variability negatively impacts portability and causes confusion about the activities a certified dental assistant can perform in any given jurisdiction.
CDSBC has been collaborating with other regulated jurisdictions to develop a common approach to expanded activities. The standardization of activities would allow improved portability for certified dental assistants and the ability to perform a broader set of activities in practice. The development of a recognition or accreditation process for the expanded activity training programs is an important feature. The working group has developed a recommended list of activities for two areas.
The list of recommended activities captured/anticipated as "expanded" in orthodontics and prosthodontics can be viewed here. The services that CDAs in BC with either module are not currently able to provide based on CDSBC Bylaws 8.09 and 8.10 are bolded. If approved in principle, the list will be the basis for reviewing the requirements of module training programs. The requirements will then be used to establish an interprovincial recognition/accreditation process for the modules.
Please submit your feedback to Leslie Riva, Senior Manager of CDA Certification and Quality Assurance at CDSBC, by 9 September 2016 to lriva@cdsbc.org