regulation constituting grounds for disciplinary action. The Board may employ inspectors for this purpose (California Dental Practice Act, 2019a) To assist California licensed dentists, RDAs, and RDAEFs whose ability to practice dentistry has been impaired by alcohol or drug abuse, the Board has established a diversion program under Business and Professions Code Section 1695 that provides access to appropriate intervention and treatment programs. The diversion program offers these practitioners a means to recover from substance abuse without the added hardship of losing their professional license. The dual purpose of the program is to protect the public and rehabilitate the licensee. The program also provides a voluntary alternative approach to traditional disciplinary actions. Participants must meet the diversion program’s eligibility requirements and agree to comply with the terms of the program. Involvement in the program is kept confidential. Upon successfully completing treatment, the licensee may return to practice, and all records pertaining to the licensee’s participation in the diversion program are purged and destroyed (Dental Board of California, 2023a). All licensees must register with the Board. According to the California Dental Practice Act, Section 1650.1, all applicants and licensees who have electronic mail addresses must report the address to the Board, which will send a notice annually to confirm that the address is still current (California Dental Practice Act, 2016). incompetence, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct (California Dental Practice Act, 2020h). The responsibilities of the Dental Hygiene Board include determining the scope of practice for all dental hygienists; issuing, reviewing, and revoking licenses; and developing and administering examinations. Additional functions include adopting regulations and determining fees and CE requirements for all hygiene licensure categories. Section 1966 mandates that the Dental Hygiene Board establish a diversion program for licensees whose competency may be impaired due to drug or alcohol abuse, as well as one or more diversion evaluation committees to further the goals of the diversion program (California Dental Practice Act, 2020l).
the leader in public protection, promotion of oral health, and access to care” (California Dental Practice Act, 2021g). The Board consists of 15 members: ● Eight practicing dentists. ● One registered dental hygienist (RDH). ● One RDA. ● Five members of the public. (California Dental Practice Act, 2020a) To ensure that all Board functions are conducted with optimum efficiency, selecting qualified Board members is essential. The governor, Senate Committee on Rules, and speaker of the assembly appoint public members. Because experience is a critical component in the decision-making process, all members of the Board, except public members, must have at least five years of clinical practice in the State of California, preceding the date of their appointments. No more than one member may be on the faculty of any dental college or department, and no members may have financial interests in any dental academic institution. Members are appointed for a four-year term, and no member can remain on the Board for more than two terms (California Dental Practice Act, 2020b). Of the eight practicing dentists on the Board, one must be a member of a California dental college, and one must be practicing in a nonprofit community clinic (California Dental Practice Act, 2020a). The Board may inspect the books, records, and premises of any licensed dentist, as well as the licensing documents, records, and premises of any dental assistant in response to a complaint that either entity has violated a law or Dental Hygiene Board of California Whereas the Board regulates licensed dentists, RDAs, and RDAEFs, the Dental Hygiene Board of California (formerly the Dental Hygiene Committee of California) now oversees all functions and requirements of all categories of RDHs (California Dental Practice Act, 2019c). The Dental Hygiene Board of California consists of nine members, seven of whom are appointed by the governor: two public members, one licensed practicing general or public health dentist, and four RDHs. Of the four RDHs, one must be licensed either in alternative practice or in extended functions, and one must be a dental hygiene educator. The Senate Committee on Rules appoints one public member, and the speaker of the Assembly appoints another public member. Members serve for no more than two consecutive four-year terms, and the governor has the power to remove any member for neglect of duty,
SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND INITIAL LICENSURE
Dentists Scope of practice
by credential, and licensure by residency (Dental Board of California, 2021d). One pathway is to apply following successful completion of the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) examination, and another is to successfully complete the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination. Applicants must provide satisfactory evidence of having passed the California Restorative Technique (RT) examination. If licensed in another state or country, the applicant must submit a completed Out of State/Country Licensure Certification form. Applicants must also provide fingerprints, submit to a criminal background check, and successfully complete the Law and Ethics examination (Dental Board of California, 2021d). Applicants enrolled in a Board-approved dental school may apply for licensure by portfolio. (see https://dbc.ca.gov/ applicants/licensure_by_portfolio.shtml; Dental Board of
The Dental Practice Act defines the practice of dentistry and permits dentists licensed in California to engage in the diagnosis or treatment, by surgery or other method, of diseases and lesions and the correction of malpositions of the human teeth, alveolar process, gums, jaws, or associated structures; and such diagnosis or treatment may include all necessary related procedures as well as the use of drugs, anesthetic agents, and physical evaluation (California Dental Practice Act, 2020c). Concerning oral and maxillofacial surgery, please see Section 1638 of the Dental Practice Act, which discusses the treatment of the “functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.” Initial licensure In California there are three basic pathways to licensure for dentists, including licensure by examination, licensure
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