ALL oral health professionals must receive recognized education

Dental assistants are the only health care provider who no need a formal education to get the job.

Formal training is a must and so is the national board exam.

It's about time.

Allowing Dentist to train assistants is NOT the answer. The answer is to pay college trained CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANTS an appropriate wage for their professional responsibilities. Doing so will not only help dentists retain employees but encourage people to enter into a profession with renumeration they can survive on! I could go on after 30 years as a CDA. Please contact me if you would like more information!

We need to have education in post secondary institutions & not chair side by dentists. This effects the integrity & validity of our profession. Registered Dental Assistants already face a lack of respect in the Dental profession & this will not foster rest.

Accepting formally untrained staff is just a way to save money and does not protect the public. Our formal credentials ensure that at the very least minimal standards are upheld.

I am in support of this, I have worked with not formally trained assistants and there is overall less understanding of the necessity and know how for thorough IPC

I have been licensed for 41 yrs. I have had to work with "street people" ie chairside assistants. I do not like to train people that may take my job. Patients deserve qualified people working in their mouths.

Anyone dealing with infection control and providing direct or indirect patient care should be formally training and regulated.

CDA’s need sick days, benefits, pension, pay raise etc!!

I absolutely agree.. I worked & studied hard for my CDA licence., it should be a respected title, not looked like anyone off the street can just jump into a DA position. It's insulting to the profession.

100%

I believe it is very important for health and safety of community to only have accredited people working with/for/on them. This wouldn’t fly in the medical profession so why is it ok in our dental profession. Been CDA for 15 years and graduated from an accredited program.

I am not for chair side assistants as this is loosely regulated or not at all and as a person with a compromised immune system this feels unsafe to me. Chair sides often do not have even one course in CDA school and working closely to people’s mouths. More positions in colleges need to open for CDA schooling and this career needs to be honoured and respected. Dentist and government need to advocate for this. Always and Especially in these times of uncertainty. Please do the right thing for the people. Don’t cheat. Shelley

CDA’s need to be protected and appreciated!

All DA or chair side dental assistant should be educated and become a CDA to work! All CDA should be paid fair and treat with respect !

Couldn’t agree more !

I 100% agree that you need to go to school!!

all healthcare providers should be trained by an educational institution before even touching a patient! For all disciplinaries

Dental assistants shoukd be able to practice in an independ role. Preforming duties that they are formally trained to do without supervision.