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.

Unless legislation is enacted to extend the Board's sunset date, it will become a bureau directly under the Department of Consumer Affairs, effective July 1, 2008, pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 101.1(b).

The Committee on Dental Auxiliaries manages the licensing and examination processes for dental auxiliary professions, 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 auxiliary professions. This includes making recommendations regarding legislation and regulations that affect dental auxiliaries.