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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski |
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Senate committee approves Pashinski dental assistant bill
HARRISBURG, April 28 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee today approved a bill he introduced that would expand the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants in Pennsylvania, and add an expanded function dental assistant to the state dental board.
Pashinski's legislation (H.B. 602) would also improve access to dental care for patients by allowing expanded function dental assistants to perform more duties in the dental office.
"I am pleased that members of the Senate committee approved my bill that would expand the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants so they would be able to assist in dental procedures," Pashinski said. "As the law now stands, certain dental procedures are only performed by dental hygienists."
Pashinski said the procedures dental assistants would be able to perform include polishing teeth, providing fluoride treatments and taking impressions of teeth for athletic purposes. The bill would also ensure that expanded function dental assistants are represented on the State Board of Dentistry.
The Luzerne County lawmaker said he is hopeful the bill will be voted on by the full Senate soon.
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