03/17/2022
A bill was introduced AB 2276 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2276on February 16th by the CDA. This bill would move Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants from the RDA category to the DA category. Their stated rationale is that:
· “The licensure of registered dental assistants has posed an issue with RDA shortages.”
They believe that these duties “fall under basic supportive dental procedures” as defined for the dental assistant in Cal B&P Code 1750 Link to an external site..https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&division=2.&title=&part=&chapter=4.&article=7.
They intend to amend the bill to “minimize the financial impact to the dental board by similarly only requiring the dental assistant to provide proof to their employer and to the dental board upon request (same as radiography).”
Hi everyone! I am contacting you on behalf of CDAA to let you know about something VERY concerning! CDA is trying to change the laws so that an unlicensed DA can do both Coronal Polish and Pit and Fissure Sealants.
CDA introduced AB 2276Links to an external site https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/.../billTextClient.... on February 16th. This bill would move Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants from the RDA category to the DA category. This bill undermines the integrity and the validity of the RDA license.
Attached is a document with information about the bill that would add coronal polishing and sealants to the scope of practice for the DA. This bill could be heard as early as 2 weeks from now and we need to get a letter-writing campaign going. The dental assisting community (CDAA, CADAT, RDAEFA, and DAEGRs) are all working together to stop this bill. We are also trying to communicate with CDA about our concerns, but in the meantime, we need to stop this bill. Please read the attached document (which will give you an understanding of the bill and its implications) and write a letter to your assembly person and senator. The document also has two example letters you can use. It can all be done online and will take just a few minutes of your time.
This is what you'll do:
Read the attached word document
*Click the link provided to find your Assemblymember
*Click on your Assembly member's website
*Click "contact" and fill in your information
Edit one of the letters attached here for examples and cut and paste it into the contact section for your Assemblymember.
Submit- DONE
This needs to be sent ASAP as the bill could be read in 2 weeks. I did mine this morning and it took about 5 minutes.
California Dental Association Initiated Legislation
That Will Allow DA’s to Perform Coronal Polishing and Sealants
CDA introduced AB 2276 on February 16th. This bill would move Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants from the RDA category to the DA category. Their stated rationale is that:
• “The licensure of registered dental assistants has posed an issue with RDA shortages.”
• They believe that these duties “fall under basic supportive dental procedures” as defined for the dental assistant in Cal B&P Code 1750.
• They intend to amend the bill to “minimize the financial impact to the dental board by similarly only requiring the dental assistant to provide proof to their employer and to the dental board upon request (same as radiography).”
We disagree and believe this bill is problematic for the following reasons:
• We see no evidence to support that the shortage is related to the licensing process but believe it to be other factors. While there is a shortage of RDA’s, there is also a shortage of all dental personnel, including dental assistants. Licensing statistics from the Dental Board for the past 6 years show no significant change in the number of RDAs.
• Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants are neither supportive, basic or reversible in nature and can cause harm to the patient. They involve the use of a handpiece and acid etch. Taking a 12-hour course without foundational experience and knowledge within weeks of employment with little oversight does not provide the skills necessary to perform these safely.
• Moving these duties to the unlicensed dental assistant category provides no accountability with the Dental Board of California and to the consumers of California for tracking these assistants and the related permits. The DBC has no legal authority over this category of assistant since they are unlicensed. This unlicensed dental assistant can literally have been a waitress, hotel worker, or just graduated from high school and be performing these technically advanced procedures within weeks of employment with little oversight.
We have requested that CDA pull this bill and engage in dialogue, but that has not yet happened. This bill could be read as early as March 19th and begin its move through the legislative process. It has not yet been discussed by the Dental Assisting Council nor the Dental Board.
Your Support Is Needed Today!!!!
The dental assisting community is working together, but WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Alliance, made up of the California Dental Assisting Association (CDAA), California Association of Dental Assisting Teachers (CADAT), the Registered Dental Assistants in Extended Functions Association (RDAEFA) and the Dental Assisting Educators Group (DAEGRs) are asking you to write a letter opposing this bill – AB2276. Two sample letters are attached but use them as a guideline.
Please send a letter to your representative in the Assembly and the Senate.
This needs to be done ASAP.
Using the link below send a letter to them expressing your thoughts and concerns. There are two versions of letters attached that will fit the required 2000-character limit. Make the letter your own! Add your own thoughts and experiences to personalize it. Ask your family to submit a letter, too. Remove highlighted areas before sending. It took about 5 minutes to do.
Please also copy your letter and send it to [email protected] for tracking purposes.
FIND YOUR REP: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov
Once you input your address, it will provide your assemblyperson and senator. You will click on the link which will take you to their webpage. Click on CONTACT ME. Enter your info and then the letter into the dialogue box.
Re: Assembly Bill 2276 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/.../billTextClient...
Dear Senator OR Representative [Name}:
I am writing you to stop the passage of AB 2276. I am a [dental consumer or dental healthcare provider of ### years] and am concerned about the potential of harm to consumers should this bill pass.
This bill would expand the scope of practice for an unlicensed dental assistant by adding Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants. These two duties involve higher skill levels and include the use of a handpiece and phosphoric acid, both of which have the potential to cause harm to the dental patient without the appropriate education and experience prior to use.
These duties are currently part of the scope of practice for the licensed RDA who are regulated by the Dental Board of CA and have the necessary education and experience prior to performing these duties. Conversely, the unlicensed dental assistant would have little to no education and/or experience prior to performing these duties and there is no oversight or regulation of the unlicensed dental assistant from the Dental Board of CA, relying solely on the dental employer for implementation and oversight. We do not believe that this provides the necessary consumer protection.
Thank you for your consideration as this bill is NOT in the best interest of the consumers of California.
Sincerely,
OR
Re: Assembly Bill 2276
Dear Senator OR Representative [Name}:
The California Dental Association is seeking a statutory change to have an unlicensed dental assistant perform more advanced procedures that currently performed by a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). As your constituent and a [practicing DA or RDA or RDAEF or ?? of ### years] OR [consumer/dental patient], I am writing to stop Assembly Bill 2276 and am seeking your support.
Explain why you are concerned and opposed to this bill, which could include, removing what you don’t use):
Minimal training with no prior background
Not basic, supportive, technically elementary or reversible in nature as per B&P 1750
Involves the use of handpiece and phosphoric acid, which can cause nerve death and gum tissue damage
Would require only 12 hours of education/training prior to performing these skills without any prior knowledge of dentistry required
Increasing risk to patients, not protecting the consumers of CA
In contradiction with intent of B&P 1740
Lack of accountability
Dental board does not track or monitor these assistants. In a tracking process, these individuals are basically non-existent. This unlicensed dental assistant can literally have been a waitress, hotel worker, or just graduated from high school and be performing these technically advanced procedures within weeks of employment with little oversight.
Relies on the dental employer to monitor and provide training
Doesn’t address the shortage of RDA’s
The number of RDAs has been stable since 2016
Continue to be people successfully completing the licensing process
There is also a shortage of dental assistants, hygienists
Thank you for your consideration as this bill is NOT in the best interest of the consumers of California.
Sincerely,
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!! YOUR VOICE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
