Welcome to the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries

Law Changes Effective January 1, 2008

Senate Bill 1546 was signed into law by the Governor which will substantially change the regulation of dental assisting in the future. In addition, the Governor signed SB1111 in October, 2005, delaying implementation of the provisions of SB1546 until January 1, 2008. SB 1049, signed by the Governor on October 13, 2007, further deferred implementation of the new RDA specialty licensure program until January 1, 2010. Following is an overview of the changes - as new information becomes available, it will be posted here. For information on changes that will become effective January 1, 2006, click here.

Implementation of the new laws will require the development of implementing regulations, which are expected to take some time to complete. As implementation plans are developed, they will be reported here. Until that time, following is the only information that is available. For a copy of all of the laws and regulations affecting dental auxiliaries, including those that will be effective January 1, 2008, please visit our laws and regulations web page.

Unlicensed dental assistants:

The supervising licensed dentist will be responsible for assuring that each dental assistant, who is in his or her continuous employ for 120 days or more, has completed: (1) board-approved courses in infection control and California law; and (2) a course in basic life support.

Allowable duties will be permitted to be performed under general supervision, if so specified by the supervising dentist, unlike current regulations which allow only a few duties to be performed under general supervision.

"Specialty" Dental Assistants

Three new "specialty" license categories will be established:

1. Registered Orthodontic Assistant

2. Registered Surgery Assistant

3. Registered Restorative Assistant.

Each specialty licensee shall be subject to the existing continuing education and renewal requirements.

Each applicant for a "specialty" license must complete a Dental Board-approved course or courses.

Law specifies the duties that each specialty licensee will be allowed to perform, in addition to those that may be authorized by Board regulation. The statutorily specified procedures include at least nine duties that are not now permitted by current regulation section 1086 which governs RDA duties.

The supervising dentist will be responsible for determining the level of supervision for each procedure, unlike current regulations that specify that the majority of duties must be performed under direct supervision.

Registered Dental Assistants

A person holding an existing RDA licenses when the new law becomes effective on January 1, 2008, will be allowed to perform most of the duties that each of the specialty licensees are allowed to perform.

On and after January 1, 2008, a person applying for an RDA license must:

1. complete a board-approved RDA educational program, OR

2. complete 12 months of work experience, complete the three specialty registration courses, and complete a board-approved radiation safety program.

Applicants for RDA licensure on and after January 1, 2008, will no longer by required to take a written examination or a practical examination.

The supervising dentist will be responsible for determining the level of supervision for each procedure, unlike current regulations that specify that the majority of duties must be performed under direct supervision.

Extended Functions Dental Assistants

In addition to the existing license classification of Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF), a new classification will be established: Registered Restorative Assistant in Extended Functions (RRAEF).

The law specifies the procedures that EFs will be allowed to perform, which include amalgam restorations and certain classifications of composite restorations. Other procedures may be specified by Board regulation. Most allowable duties must be performed under direct supervision.

Each applicant for RRAEF licensure must

1. provide evidence of completion of 12 months of work experience.

2. complete a Dental Board-approved restorative dental assisting educational program.

3. complete a Dental Board-approved extended functions educational program

4. complete Board-approved courses in radiation safety and, within the last two years, courses in infection control, California dental law, and basic life support.

5. satisfactorily perform on a written examination and a clinical or practical examination specified by the Board.

The new law will allow a dentist to simultaneously utilize in his or her practice no more than three dental auxiliaries in extended functions, compared to the current restriction to 2 such employees.

Registered Dental Assistants in Extended Functions (RDAEFs) will be allowed to perform the same new duties that RDAEFs will be allowed to perform, which include amalgam restorations and certain classifications of composite restorations. Other procedures may be specified by Board regulation. Most allowable duties must be performed under direct supervision.

Persons who hold an RDAEF license on January 1, 2008, will only be allowed to perform newly allowable duties after taking an approved course in such duties and an examination as specified by the board.

On and after January 1, 2008, each applicant for RDAEF licensure must

1. possess current licensure as an RDA or have completed the requirements for RDA licensure.

2. complete a Dental Board-approved extended functions educational program

3. complete Board-approved courses in radiation safety and, within the last two years, courses in infection control, California dental law, and basic life support.

4. satisfactorily perform on a written examination and a clinical or practical examination specified by the board

The new law will allow a dentist to simultaneously utilize in his or her practice no more than three dental auxiliaries in extended functions, compared to the current restriction to 2 such employees.