Knowing the Boundaries for Dental Auxiliaries: Understanding Delegated duties and scope of practice for Arizona Dental Assistant, Oral Preventative Assistant and Expanded Function Dental Assistant

Carrie Gauntt has devoted over 35 years to the dental profession. As both a certified dental assistant and an expanded-function dental assistant, she possesses a variety of national and state credentials, along with a state license in EFDA. Having observed significant transformations within the dental community, her primary focus has shifted towards teaching, although she remains engaged in clinical practice during the summer months. Since 2015, she has been a passionate advocate for EFDA in Arizona and currently serves as the EFDA Coordinator at Phoenix College. She encourages her students to take an active role in their professional advocacy, particularly in light of recent efforts to remove credentials from Arizona statutes in 2024. Dental professionals need to collaborate in engaging patients and educating our community about laws and changes affecting their scope of practice, especially for dental assistants. Her unwavering commitment to patient safety is the driving force behind her advocacy efforts.

With over two decades of experience in the dental field, Kristi Deela is a committed and versatile dental professional whose career spans clinical practice, education, administration, and advocacy. She has held a wide range of roles, including chairside and lead dental assistant, front office assistant, back office manager, and obstructive sleep apnea assistant. In addition to her clinical work, she conducts dental practice analyses to optimize profitability and provides OSHA and HIPAA training to dental teams, always prioritizing clinical efficiency and patient safety. She currently serves as the Program Director for the CODA-accredited Dental Assisting Program at Phoenix College, where she is dedicated to preparing the next generation of dental assistants through mentorship and high-quality education. Her work also extends to national organizations such as the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), where she contributes to advancing dental education and standards. In addition to her full-time educational responsibilities, Kristi maintains clinical involvement through occasional work in private practice to stay connected to patient care. She is also an active advocate for the dental profession, currently serving as a Director at Large for the American Dental Assistants Association, a Review Committee Member with CODA, and as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Global Dental Access Days Foundation. At the heart of her career is a deep commitment to service, education, and the advancement of the dental assisting profession.