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Committee warns dental offices about vendor claims: lasers and CuraDont require specific training
Summary
Board members raised concerns that vendor materials and some educators may mislead practices about what registered dental assistants may perform with lasers or new peptide products such as CuraDont; the committee urged better outreach to CE providers and registrants.
At the licensing committee meeting on Feb. 19, members discussed reports that vendors and some educators were telling offices that dental assistants could perform procedures (including photobiomodulation and application of CuraDont) that the board’s rules and statutory scope do not permit without appropriate training and supervision.
Several members urged clearer communication to vendors, CE providers and educators. Miss Jones described receiving screenshots from offices showing vendors advising assistants could perform certain red-light/laser treatments. Miss Bach and other educator-members explained differences in laser classifications and that hygienists receive more extensive training to understand tissue responses and safe use; photobiomodulation often uses low-level wavelengths but can still meet class‑4 definitions that pose safety risks if misused.
Members also discussed CuraDont (a peptide-based product for early caries management). Presenters said CuraDont’s application includes polishing and etching steps not routinely within an untrained dental assistant’s duties. Committee members recommended targeted outreach to approved CE providers and suggested notifying the approved-provider list that courses and vendor training must align with Texas rules and scope-of-practice limits.
Why it matters: Miscommunication from vendors and educators could lead to untrained staff performing procedures that raise patient-safety and scope-of-practice concerns. The board recommended education and better materials to ensure compliance.
What’s next: Staff will explore ways to communicate scope-of-practice rules to CE providers and vendor educators (newsletter posts, direct outreach to approved providers and possible cross-agency coordination with radiation/laser permitting offices).
