1110 Department of Consumer Affairs, Boards
Program Descriptions

36 - DENTAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA

The Dental Board of California establishes minimal standards of competency for those individuals seeking to practice as a dentist, registered dental hygienist, registered dental assistant, dental auxiliary in extended function, or dental hygienist in alternative practice. The Board enforces standards to protect California dental consumers from incompetent dental practitioners, and the utilization of dental auxiliaries contributes to providing quality dental services to Californians.

Effective January 1, 2009, the State Dental Assistant Committee (Committee) was created and assumed the duties of the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries with regard to dental assistants, pursuant to Chapter 31, Statutes of 2008 (SB 853).

The Committee manages the licensing and examination processes for dental assistants, coordinates the approval process (including curriculum and site evaluation) of postsecondary dental assisting vocational education programs, and makes recommendations to the Dental Board on all aspects of the dental assisting profession. This includes making recommendations regarding legislation and regulations that affect dental assistants.