# California dental auxiliary scope of practice

> California dental auxiliary categories, supervision levels, and SB 1453 changes effective January 1, 2025.

URL: https://dentovio.com/california/rda-scope-of-practice

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Educational reference only, not legal advice. Confirm the exact permitted duties with the Dental Board of California's current Table of Permitted Dental Auxiliary Duties before delegating a task.

## Direct answer

- California recognizes direct supervision and general supervision under Business and Professions Code section 1741.
- There is no indirect-supervision category in California dental delegation.
- SB 1453 changed dental-assistant infection-control prerequisites, coronal-polishing eligibility, and the old extended-function auxiliary cap effective January 1, 2025.

## Supervision levels

- Direct supervision: The dentist is physically present in the facility during the procedure and must check and approve the completed work before the patient is dismissed from the chair. (Business & Professions Code §1741)
- General supervision: The dentist need not be physically present, but must have authorized the procedure in advance through a written treatment plan. (Business & Professions Code §1741)

## Auxiliary categories

- DA (Dental Assistant (unlicensed)): regulated by Dental Board of California. Must complete a Board-approved 8-hour infection-control course (16 CCR §1070.6) before any exposure-prone duty. May perform coronal polishing after a Board-approved course, under direct supervision only (SB 1453).
- OA (Orthodontic Assistant): regulated by Dental Board of California. Permit category for orthodontic-specific duties.
- DSA (Dental Sedation Assistant): regulated by Dental Board of California. Permit category for sedation-support duties.
- RDA (Registered Dental Assistant): regulated by Dental Board of California. Licensed assistant; broader delegated duties per the Table of Permitted Duties.
- RDAEF (RDA in Extended Functions): regulated by Dental Board of California. Extended-function duties. The former cap of three EF auxiliaries per dentist was repealed effective 1/1/2025 (SB 1453).
- RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist): regulated by Dental Hygiene Board of California. May administer local anesthesia only under the direct supervision of a physically present dentist.
- RDHAP (RDH in Alternative Practice): regulated by Dental Hygiene Board of California. May provide care in alternative settings under statutory conditions.
- RDHEF (RDH in Extended Functions): regulated by Dental Hygiene Board of California. Extended-function hygiene duties.

## Primary sources

- `A6` Dental Board Table of Permitted Dental Auxiliary Duties. <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/formspubs/pub_permitted_duties.pdf>
- `A17` BPC section 1741 direct and general supervision definitions. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=1741.>
- `A20` Dental Board SB 1453 alert. <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/formspubs/alert_sb_1453.pdf>
- `A38` BPC section 1750 dental assistant definition and infection-control prerequisites. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=1750.>
- `A70` 16 CCR section 1070.6 Board-approved dental assistant infection-control course content. <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/formspubs/1070oal1.pdf>

## Related

- [California dental practice compliance](https://dentovio.com/california/dental-practice-compliance/index.html.md)
- [Auxiliaries and supervision guide](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/auxiliaries-delegation-supervision/index.html.md)
- [Infection control and OSHA guide](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/infection-control-osha/index.html.md)