Mo. Rev. Stat. § 332.011: Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms mean:

(1) "Accredited dental hygiene school" , any program which teaches a course in dental hygiene which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and which shall have a minimum of two academic years of curriculum provided in a college or institution of higher education;

(2) "Accredited dental school" , any college, university, school, or other institution which teaches dentistry which has been certified by the American Dental Association;

(3) "Board" , the Missouri dental board;

(4) "Certified dental assistant" , a dental assistant who is currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.;

(5) "Dental assistant" , an employee of a duly registered and currently licensed dentist in Missouri, other than either a dental hygienist or a certified dental assistant;

(6) "Expanded-functions dental assistant" , any dental assistant who has passed a basic dental assisting skills mastery examination or a certified dental assistant, either of whom has successfully completed a board-approved expanded-functions course, passed a competency examination, and has obtained a permit authorizing them to perform expanded-functions duties from the Missouri dental board;

(7) "Expanded-functions duties" , reversible acts that would be considered the practice of dentistry as defined in section 332.071 that the board specifies by rule may be delegated to a dental assistant or dental hygienist who possesses an expanded-functions permit.