Dental Board moves to amend code to restore and clarify RDAEF duties after SB1453 changes

The Dental Board of California voted May 15 to submit a legislative proposal to correct and clarify allowable duties and education requirements for registered dental assistants with expanded functions (RDAEF), including reinserting a polishing‑of‑existing‑amalgam restorations duty that staff say was removed by amendment in SB 1453.

“T he polishing of existing amalgam restorations is very specific and specialized training,” said Tina Valerie, chief of license and program compliance, describing staff concern that the duty had been removed from the statutory list and should be restored for RDAEFs licensed after 01/01/2010. Staff also identified that cross‑references in BPC §17.53 that apply to RDAEFs licensed prior to 01/01/2010 were not updated to reflect renumbered duties added by SB 1453.

Board members described the agenda item as cleanup and clarification. After questions, a motion carried to submit the board’s legislative proposal (attachment 1) to amend Business and Professions Code sections 17.53 and 17.53.5 to (1) add polishing of existing amalgam restorations to the list of allowable duties for RDAEFs and (2) require that RDAEFs licensed prior to 01/01/2010 complete a board‑approved course in the updated duties.

Why it matters: The amendments are technical but affect the scope of practice for RDAEFs and the training required for assistants licensed under older pathways. Restoring a duty that staff say was removed in error clarifies what tasks a licensed RDAEF may perform and what training is required for legacy licensees.

Next steps: Staff will submit the legislative proposal to the California Legislature; the board asked staff to pursue the amendments in Attachment 1.