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What Dental Hygienists Need to Know About California Legislation Expanding the Scope of Practice for Dental Assistants

Starting January 1, 2025, new legislation will expand the duties of dental assistants in California. While aimed at modernizing dental practices, dental hygienists express concern over the impact of these changes on patient care.

California’s newly signed legislation is set to bring significant changes to dental practices starting January 1, 2025, particularly in how dental assistants are trained and what duties they are allowed to perform. While the legislation is intended to address staffing shortages and modernize dental care delivery, many dental hygienists are concerned about the expansion of dental assistants’ scope of practice.

One of the most controversial changes is the expansion of coronal polishing duties for unlicensed dental assistants. Once they complete a board-approved course, these assistants will be able to perform coronal polishing under direct supervision. Dental hygienists, who have extensive training and education in preventive oral care, argue that allowing assistants to perform such tasks could compromise the quality of care

Another area of concern is the initiation of a preceptorship model for registered dental assistants (RDAs), which take effect in California on July 1, 2025. It aims to address workforce shortages by providing an alternative pathway for RDA licensure. This model allows dental assistants to complete 800 supervised hours of on-the-job training, inclusive of educational and clinical experience, creating a faster route to licensure compared to traditional educational programs. While this model is intended to alleviate staffing issues, many dental hygienists are concerned that the preceptorship model may lower the quality of training and expertise that RDAs receive. Hygienists, who undergo extensive formal education, worry that compressing training into a preceptorship model could result in less thorough understanding of how to provide safe and effective patient care. Many dental hygienists suggest that education in a structured, board-approved program offers more comprehensive learning, ensuring higher standards and consistency across the profession.

The legislation aims to address California’s staffing shortages in dental offices, particularly in underserved areas, by delegating more tasks to dental assistants. However, dental hygienists emphasize that while efficiency is important, maintaining high standards of care should remain a top priority. Click here to read more.

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