Welcome to the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries

Law Changes Effective January 1, 2005

Pit and fissure sealants:

Effective January 1, 2005, RDAs were allowed to apply pit and fissure sealants ONLY in the following settings, and ONLY after providing COMDA with evidence that he or she has completed a Dental Board-approved course in pit and fissure sealants. A list of approved courses can be found on our web site.

Effective January 1, 2006, RDAs will be allowed to apply pit and fissure sealants in all settings, once they have completed a Board-approved course.

In addition, an RDA performing pit and fissure sealants in specified settings may do so under the direction of a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in addition to a licensed dentist.

RDAEFs, who are all currently allowed to apply pit and fissure sealants, will also be able to perform this duty under the supervision of an RDH in the settings specified below beginning January 1, 2005.

Allowable settings prior to January 1, 2006, and for RDAs and RDAEFs under the supervision of an RDH, are as follows. Please refer to the link to the section of law indicated for more information about the types of clinics allowed:

1. A primary care clinic or specialty clinic licensed pursuant to Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code.

2. A primary care clinic exempt from licensure pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code.

3. A clinic owned and operated by a hospital that maintains the primary contract with a county government to fill the county's role under Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Coronal polishing and application of topical fluoride:

In the same settings specified above, and under the supervision of a dentist OR an RDH, both RDAs and RDAEFs will be allowed to perform coronal polishing and apply topical fluoride. RDAs may ONLY do so if they have provided COMDA with evidence of having completed a Board-approved course in coronal polishing (which ALL RDAs are required by law to complete by March 31, 2006).