This law aims to make the best use of dental assistants to ensure everyone in the state can access dental care. It encourages career growth for dental assistants through more education and training, allowing them to achieve higher licenses. The law also wants the Dental Board of California to listen to the Dental Assisting Council's advice when putting these rules into practice.

This law defines a variety of terms related to dental assisting in California. It explains what an 'alternative dental assisting program' is and what qualifies as 'basic supportive dental procedures,' which are simple tasks like sterilization and infection control. It also outlines what it means to be a 'certified dental assistant,' mentioning the necessary exams and that a certificate isn't required for license renewals. It details what a 'certificate of completion' should include and emphasizes the requirements for 'continuing education,' including how many units one can earn in a day. The law clarifies roles like 'dental assistant,' 'registered dental assistant,' and 'registered dental assistant in extended functions.' It differentiates between 'direct' and 'general supervision' by licensed dentists. Additionally, it describes terms like 'interim therapeutic restoration,' 'preceptee,' 'preceptor,' and 'preceptorship in dental assisting,' outlining the roles and responsibilities for dental training and supervision. It also defines 'satisfactory work experience' as determined by certified supervising dentists.

This law creates the Dental Assisting Council within the Dental Board of California. The council deals with issues related to dental assistants, like exam and licensure requirements, educational standards, and duties. The council's members include a board member and five registered dental assistants from diverse backgrounds, with specific qualifications. They can't have financial interests in dental assistant schools, and their role is public. Terms are generally four years, and no one can serve more than two full terms. Any recommendations they make to the board must be addressed by the board within 120 days, and if modified or rejected, reasons must be provided. The council can meet with other committees and will choose a chairperson to lead and report to the board.

This section outlines the responsibilities and powers of the board regarding dental assistant licenses. They must review and evaluate applications to ensure candidates meet necessary requirements. The board maintains application records and handles fees, and may delegate these tasks to staff. The board is responsible for issuing licenses unless there's a question about eligibility. It also develops and administers licensing exams, setting pass marks. Finally, the board oversees the renewal of licenses, possibly delegating this task as well.

If your license is denied, suspended, or revoked under this article, the rules and steps that will be followed are laid out in another part of the Government Code starting with Section 11500.

This section explains the role of a dental assistant who works under a licensed dentist without needing a license themselves. They can do basic dental tasks that are simple, reversible, and safe for patients, provided they meet several training and certification requirements. The dentist and employer must ensure the assistant completes an infection control course and maintain documentation of all required certifications. Additionally, ongoing education in the Dental Practice Act and basic life support is necessary. For certain procedures like taking X-rays or coronal polishing, specific safety courses and certifications are needed, which must be visibly displayed at the workplace.

This law outlines what tasks dental assistants in California can do under a licensed dentist's supervision. They can perform certain duties outside the mouth, take dental X-rays if qualified, and take photographs in and out of the mouth. Some tasks can only be done while the dentist directly supervises, such as applying fluoride, taking impressions, adjusting orthodontic appliances, and handling certain dental materials. However, dental assistants are not allowed to diagnose, perform surgery, prescribe medications, or administer anesthesia. The statute also specifies that only certain registered dental professionals can apply sealants.

This law explains how a person can get an orthodontic assistant permit in California. To qualify, you need to complete specific courses in dental law, infection control, and ultrasonic scaling. You also need current certification in basic life support and must finish a special course for orthodontic assistants. Fingerprinting for a background check is required, and you must pass a written exam to test the necessary skills. Once you have the permit, you need to renew your life support certification and follow continuing education rules. The permit must be displayed at your workplace, and any fake documentation can lead to losing the permit.

If you want to become a dental sedation assistant in California, you need to apply to the board, pay a fee, and meet specific requirements. First, you must either be a registered dental assistant or have at least a year of experience. You also need to pass board-approved courses on the Dental Practice Act and infection control, and have a current basic life support certificate. Further, you must complete a special dental sedation assistant course and pass an exam. Fingerprinting for a criminal check is required too. Once you have the permit, you'll need to keep your life support certification up to date and take additional education courses as required. Your permit must be displayed where you work, and providing false documentation can lead to losing your permit.

A dental sedation assistant with a proper permit can do certain tasks under the close supervision of a licensed dentist or authorized health care professional. These tasks include monitoring patients under sedation, helping with drug preparation, and managing intravenous lines. These activities must happen in a dental office or clinic. The assistant's valid permit must be visibly displayed where they work.

This law requires the board to review and possibly update the duties and supervision levels for various types of dental assistants in California every seven years. They must also ensure that the regulations reflect current dental practices.

This law outlines the requirements for someone to become a licensed registered dental assistant in California. To qualify, an applicant must meet at least one of several specific education or experience criteria, such as completing an approved educational program, having relevant work experience, holding a valid certification, or completing certain alternative programs. Additional requirements include completing specific courses on topics like infection control and radiation safety, passing a written and ethics exam, and submitting fingerprints for a background check. There are also provisions for those who already hold certain dental hygiene licenses and for those interested in special permits like orthodontic assisting. This section will be effective from July 1, 2025.

This law outlines the tasks a registered dental assistant in California can perform, specifying different levels of supervision needed for each task. Under the oversight of a licensed dentist, registered dental assistants can do many things, like conducting mouth mirror inspections, applying bleaching agents, and using caries detection devices. They can also fit and remove temporary restorations, dry treated canals, and polish teeth, among other duties. For more advanced tasks, like removing orthodontic cement with an ultrasonic scaler or applying sealants, additional education and certification are required. The supervising dentist has to ensure that the assistant is properly trained and decide whether the tasks need general or direct supervision.

If you're a registered dental assistant in California licensed from January 1, 2010, onwards, you need to complete a board-approved course on applying pit and fissure sealants before your first license renewal that requires continuing education. If you don't provide proof of taking the course, your license won't be renewed until you do.

If you want to become a registered dental assistant in extended functions in California starting from January 1, 2010, you'll need to apply, pay a fee, and prove you're eligible. This includes having a current assistant license, providing fingerprints for a background check, and completing certain educational programs. You also need certification in basic life support and to pass a board-issued exam. If you have permits in orthodontic or dental sedation assisting, you'll be known as an RDAEF with the relevant permit. Any continuing education you complete covers the requirements for these permits, and you're responsible for keeping your license up to date, including continuing education.

This law explains what additional procedures a registered dental assistant in extended functions (RDAEF), licensed after January 1, 2010, is permitted to perform under the supervision of a dentist. Beyond the duties of an ordinary dental assistant, they can conduct oral health assessments, including checking for oral cancer and other evaluations, and perform tasks like gingival retraction, taking impressions, and working on restorations. The RDAEF must perform these tasks under the direct supervision and responsibility of a licensed dentist, and they need the necessary training and education to use modern techniques and materials.

If you're a dental assistant in extended functions and got your license after January 1, 2010, you can do some extra tasks if you've passed a special board course. You can help take x-rays and provide temporary fillings, called interim therapeutic restorations. You can decide which x-rays are needed under the guidance of your dentist and work independently at times but mostly in communication with them. In dental offices, you work closely with your supervising dentist, and in public health settings like schools or community clinics, you might use telehealth to connect with them. This ability will be listed on your license on the internet so everyone knows your added skills.

Starting January 1, 2026, anyone offering courses for dental assistants on interim therapeutic restorations and radiographic decision-making must get approval from the board. They need to fill out an application, pay a fee, and ensure that the course covers specific topics, such as restorative techniques and radiographic guidelines. The course must include 16 total hours of training (didactic, laboratory, and clinical). Students also need access to proper facilities and equipment, as well as safety and waste management protocols. Also, all faculty must be up-to-date with current training and evaluation standards. Successful course completion is based on set criteria, and students must pass written and clinical exams. Courses must remain compliant, and the board can review or revoke course approval if standards aren't met. Changes to courses must be promptly reported to the board.

This law allows certain qualified registered dental assistants with extended functions to perform extra duties under the direction of a supervising dentist. If they were licensed on or after January 1, 2010, they can perform these duties. Those licensed before that date must complete a specific board-approved course. These duties include selecting radiographs for patients who haven't been examined by a dentist yet and placing temporary tooth restorations as a stopgap until a dentist can provide further treatment. The work settings include dental offices and certain public health environments, often using telehealth methods for supervision. All these duties require specific training, and a permit from the board after evidence of completing the necessary coursework.

If you are a registered dental assistant with an extended functions license, you can only perform the tasks that regular dental assistants can do, plus a few extra procedures, until you prove you've taken a board-approved course for more advanced skills. These additional procedures include tasks like gingiva retraction for impressions, taking final impressions, applying sealants, removing excess cement, fitting trial endodontic filling points, and forming patterns for post and core castings.

This law section is about setting the standards for radiation safety courses related to radiographic techniques, primarily for dental use. These courses must cover theory, lab work, and clinical practice. To be approved, a course must last at least 32 hours, including didactic, lab, and supervised clinical learning. The courses are required to teach essential skills and knowledge like radiation safety, radiograph processing, and patient protection. Course providers must apply for approval, ensuring their offering covers necessary topics and provides proper supervision and facilities. If a course fails to meet the standards, the board can withdraw its approval. Students must also complete infection control and life support training beforehand, and upon finishing the course, they receive a completion certificate.

This law section focuses on infection control courses for dental assistants in California. It mandates that unlicensed dental assistants who aren't in certain approved programs need to complete a board-approved eight-hour course in infection control. This course must cover both theoretical (didactic) and practical (laboratory) components, including key topics like dental science, legal aspects of infection control, disease prevention, and the use of personal protective equipment. Courses must follow Cal/OSHA regulations and provide certification upon completion. The board can make further rules to enforce these requirements.

In California, only licensed dental hygienists or dentists can perform dental hygiene work like cleaning teeth or planning treatments, unless you are a student in a dental program doing it as part of your studies, a dental assistant following the rules, or a licensed hygienist from another place demonstrating for educational purposes.

This law requires the board to create rules to put the article's requirements into action.

This section makes it a crime for someone without a proper license or permit to claim to be a registered dental assistant, orthodontic assistant, dental sedation assistant, or a similar role. If you haven't been officially recognized by the board and you say or suggest that you have, you're committing a misdemeanor.

This law explains how licenses related to this article are renewed, restored, reinstated, or reissued, and references other sections for the detailed rules. Licenses remain valid until a specified date, as outlined in another section, after which they will expire if they are not renewed on time.

This law explains what dental assistants can do when working in certain types of clinics in California. If they're in a primary or specialty care clinic or a hospital clinic with a county contract, they can perform certain duties under the supervision of a dental hygienist. Registered dental assistants are allowed to do tasks like polishing teeth, applying fluoride, and putting on sealants, provided they've taken a course approved by the board.