_____________________________________________________________ The California Dental Practice Act
REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANTS Registered dental assistants (RDAs) are Board-licensed pro- fessionals who may perform a greater range of duties than unlicensed dental assistants. Specific information pertaining to RDAs’ scope of practice can be found in CCR Section 1086, and general information regarding regulations pertain- ing to RDAs is located in CBPC Sections 1740–1777, which should be reviewed periodically to ensure self-compliance with the act [28]. CCR Section 1086. RDA Duties and Settings. (a) Unless specifically so provided by regulation, the prohibi- tions contained in section 1085 of these regulations apply to registered dental assistants. (b) A registered dental assistant may perform all functions which may be performed by a dental assistant. (c) Under general supervision, a registered dental assistant may perform the following duties: 1. Mouth-mirror inspection of the oral cavity, to include charting of obvious lesions, existing restorations and missing teeth; 2. Placement and removal of temporary sedative dress- ings. (d) A registered dental assistant may perform the following procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist when done so pursuant to the order, control and full professional responsibility of the supervising dentist. Such procedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office of said dentist. 1. Obtain endodontic cultures; 2. Dry canals, previously opened by the supervising dentist, with absorbent points; 3. Test pulp vitality; 4. Place bases and liners on sound dentin; 5. Remove excess cement from supragingival surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument or floss; 6. Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns and bands; 7. Fabrication of temporary crowns intra-orally; 8. Temporary cementation and removal of temporary crowns and removal of orthodontic bands; 9. Placement of orthodontic separators; 10. Placement and ligation of arch wires; 11. Placement of post-extraction and periodontal dress- ings; 12. Apply bleaching agents; 13. Activate bleaching agents with non-laser light-curing device;
14. Take bite registrations for diagnostic models for case study only; 15. Coronal polishing (Evidence of satisfactory comple- tion of a board-approved course of instruction in this function must be submitted to the board prior to any performance thereof). This procedure shall not be intended or interpreted as a complete oral prophylaxis (a procedure which can be performed only by a licensed dentist or registered dental hygienist). A licensed dentist or registered dental hygienist shall determine that the teeth to be polished are free of calculus or other extraneous material prior to coronal polishing. 16. Removal of excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth under orthodontic treatment by means of an ultrasonic scaler. (Evidence of satisfactory comple- tion of a board-approved course of instruction or equivalent instruction in an approved RDA program in this function must be submitted to the board prior to any performance thereof.) (e) Settings. Registered dental assistants may undertake the duties authorized by this section in a treatment facility under the jurisdiction and control of the supervising licensed dentist, or in an equivalent facility approved by the board. Registered Dental Assistants in Extended Functions Registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs) are Board-licensed dental professionals who have a greater breadth of permitted duties than RDAs. Specifics regarding these allowed duties can be found in CCR Section 1087 [28]. CCR Section 1087. RDAEF Duties and Settings. (a) Unless specifically so provided by regulation, the prohibi- tions contained in Section 1085 apply to RDAEFs. (b) An RDAEF may perform all duties assigned to dental assistants and registered dental assistants. (c) An RDAEF may perform the procedures set forth below under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist when done so pursuant to the order, control and full profes- sional responsibility of the supervising dentist. Such pro- cedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office of said dentist. 1. Cord retraction of gingivae for impression proce- dures; 2. Take impressions for cast restorations; 3. Take impressions for space maintainers, orthodontic appliances, and occlusal guards; 4. Prepare enamel by etching for bonding;
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