Update on Proposed Legislation and Rules

Done Deals:

• Dental Material Fact Sheet
• Semi-Critical Instruments
• Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Requirements for Licensure

Pending Drafts:

• Semi-Critical Instruments
• RDA Requirements and Duties

Done Deals

Dental Material Fact Sheet

At the May 14, 2004 Dental Board Meeting, a revised "consumer friendly version of the Dental Material Facts Sheet (DMFS)" was approved by the Dental Board of California.

Orthodontists are not required to distribute this fact sheet to their patients unless they are restoring teeth with the described restorative materials.

The new DMFS needs to be distributed to patients as soon as they are received from the Dental Board. Members should have already received this.

You can download the following:

• Consumer-Friendly Dental Materials Fact Sheet, 2004 (PDF - 452KB)
• Instructions for distributing Dental Materials Fact Sheet (PDF - 61KB)
• Dental Material Facts Sheet in Spanish-2004 (PDF - 132 KB)
• Dental Material Facts Sheet in Chinese-2004 (PDF - 196 KB)

For more, see the Dental Material Facts Sheet section of the Dental Board's website.

Semi-Critical Instruments

At the May 14, 2004 Dental Board meeting, a CAO work group presented alternative language which would have allowed both Dentist and Specialist discretion over the methods of preventing recontamination of previously sterilized semi-critical instruments. This was not upheld.

The Dental Board approved new infection control regulations (PDF - 120 KB), which uphold the required wrapping or bagging of semi-critical instruments prior to sterilization.

In addition, if the instruments are to be set out on a tray prior to use, they must be covered with "a water impervious barrier" that covers the instruments in their entirety (top and sides of tray). (See the pending section below.)

Registered Dental Assistant Requirements

The Committee on Dental Auxiliaries (COMDA) notified Registered Dental Assistants (RDA) in fall 2003 that they would need to show documentation of having taken both Radiational Safety and Coronal Polishing training in order to renew their RDA license after January 2005. (Also see the pending section below.)

Pending Drafts of Regulations and Legislation

Semi-Critical Instruments

In follow up to the May 14, 2004 Dental Board Decision to uphold the required wrapping of semi-critical instruments prior to sterilization, CAO will secure representation on both the California Dental Association (CDA) Infection Control Work Group and the Dental Board Infection Control Subcommittee.

Also, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) House of Delegates has approved a Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists (PCSO) resolution to work with the American Dental Association (ADA) in communicating concerns about semi-critical instruments infection control guidelines to the Center of Disease Control.

The CDC guidelines do not require bagging or wrapping of all instruments before sterilization.

RDA Requirements and Duties

January 1, 2006 is the deadline for the new requirement for all RDAs to be have completed Radiational Safety and Coronal Polishing courses before license renewal.

The Dental Board may did not approve the concept of RDA's submitting an affidavit as proof of training. However, copies of RDA licenses with coronal polishing stickers may be submitted as proof.

Due to the transition of California Governors, pending legislation for Expanded RDA Duties was frozen by the new Administration.

More on the Status of Legislation:

Next: How You Can Participate