Following are frequently asked questions about allowable duties as listed on the State of California Committee on Dental Auxilliaries web site. For more information on dental hygiene licensure and practice in California please visit DHCC.

May RDH's place antibiotic medicaments subgingivally? The new laws provide a broad definition of dental hygiene practice, which would allow the performance of this procedure.

May auxiliaries use slow or high-speed handpieces? The use of an slow-speed or high-speed handpieces by auxiliaries is not specifically prohibited by law or regulation, except that (1) those certified to perform coronal polishing are limited to using "an appropriation rotary instrument with rubber cap or brush and a polishing agent" (Regulation Section 1067(h); and (2) the procedure is not intended to cut hard or soft tissue.

However, law also prohibits dental personnel from performing any service which they are not competent to perform, or which is not in accordance with customs and standards of the dental profession, as provided in Section 1684 of the Dental Practice Act:

"1684. In addition to other acts constituting unprofessional conduct under this chapter, it is unprofessional conduct for a person licensed under this chapter to perform, or hold himself or herself out as able to perform, professional services beyond the scope of his or her license and field or fields of competence as established by his or her education, experience, training, or any combination thereof. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of any instrument or device in a manner that is not in accordance with the customary standards and practices of the dental profession..."

Therefore, it is up to the practitioner and his or her employer to assure that the above requirements are fully met before using a device to avoid disciplinary and/or criminal action.

May an RDH use lasers? RDHs may use a laser if it is used in accordance with the customary standards and practice of the dental community. They can only use a laser which has been approved by the FDA for the particular procedure they intend to perform with the laser, AND they only can perform the procedure if it is one that currently law and regulations currently allows them to perform.

No auxiliary may provide ANY service, including the use of a laser, if doing so would be beyond the scope of their education, experience and training (see Section 1684 of the Business and Professions Code in the publication of laws and regulations referred to above).

Who may perform coronal polishing, and when? Is coronal polishing considered an oral prophylaxis? An unlicensed dental assistant may not perform coronal polishing. Only a licensed RDA may perform coronal polishing, AFTER successful completion of a Board-approved course and submission of certification thereof to COMDA.

A licensed dentist or registered dental hygienist must determine that the teeth to be polished are free of calculus or other extraneous material PRIOR to coronal polishing (See Regulation Section 1086(d)(12).

Coronal polishing may not be intended or interpreted as a complete oral prophylaxis, which is a procedure which can be performed only by a licensed dentist or registered dental hygienist.

An oral prophylaxis is defined in Regulation Section 1067(g) as"

Oral prophylaxis' means the preventive dental procedures including complete removal of explorer-detectable calculus, soft deposits, plaque, stains, and the smoothing of unattached tooth surfaces. The objective of this treatment shall be creation of an environment in which hard and soft tissues can be maintained in good health by the patient."

For specific questions about the RDH Application or Examination, you can also email.