Dental Hygiene Board committee approves amended rules for mobile clinics and physical‑facility registration

The Dental Hygiene Board of California’s Legislation & Regulatory Committee on Nov. 8, 2025, voted to recommend approval of amended regulatory language and forms for mobile dental hygiene clinics and for registration of physical facilities used by registered dental hygienists in alternative practice (RDHAPs) in 16 CCR §§1116 and 1116.5.

The package, presented by Dr. Adena Petty, clarifies definitions and form fields to reduce stakeholder confusion and limits some physical‑facility requirements to locations that provide patient services. Petty told the committee the changes include replacing the word “diagnoses” with “care plan,” adding a third “NA” column to several checklists, and making the requirement for emergency oxygen contingent on whether an RDHAP administers local anesthesia or performs soft‑tissue curettage. “If an RDHAP does not provide radiographic services, check the NA box,” Petty said when explaining form edits.

After discussion, member Julie Elginer moved — and the committee approved — an amendment replacing “care plan” with “dental hygiene process of care” and explicitly including “dental hygiene assessments” in the patient‑records provision. Regulations counsel read the agreed wording for patient records into the record: “Patient treatment records shall include the patient's dental history maintained by the [facility/clinic] related to the dental hygiene process of care, which includes medical history, dental hygiene assessments, dental hygiene care plan, dental hygiene procedures and treatment, response to dental hygiene treatment, documented consultations with other dental care and health care providers, and referrals for dental care and health care follow‑up treatment”.

President Joanne Pacheco made the committee motion to recommend the amended language and forms to the full board and to authorize staff to submit the package to the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency for review; Crystal Uyama recorded the committee roll call when the motion passed (Long: Aye; Elginer: Aye; Pacheco: Aye).

What this means: if the full board and reviewing agencies accept the package and no adverse public comments require a hearing, staff will proceed with the formal rulemaking process to adopt the amendments. The package explicitly ties some facility requirements to certification of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Department of Health Care Access and Information and removes fee language to clarify there is no registration fee for primary physical facilities or portable‑equipment maintenance facilities.

Next steps: staff will post the rulemaking notice, accept public comment during the statutory 45‑day period, and return to the board with any adverse comments or a proposed final package.

The committee’s action follows a Sept. 12 town hall to solicit RDHAP and stakeholder feedback and a period of drafting and revision that staff said was aimed at reducing ambiguity in forms and regulatory text.