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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 4Art. 7§ 1777 Dental Assistant Clinic Duties

§ 1777 Dental Assistant Clinic Duties

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1777 Dental Assistant Clinic Duties

Key Takeaways

  • •Dental assistants can do some extra tasks outside the mouth, but only if a dental hygienist is watching them closely.
  • •Registered dental assistants can do a few special jobs like polishing teeth, putting on fluoride, or sealing teeth, but only if a dental hygienist is watching and they’ve taken a special class for sealing.
  • •These rules only apply if the dental assistant works in certain types of clinics, like ones run by hospitals or special county clinics.

Example

A dental assistant works in a clinic run by a hospital. They want to help put fluoride on a kid’s teeth.

The dental assistant can do this job, but only if a dental hygienist is right there watching them the whole time. If they haven’t taken a special class, they can’t put on sealants, but fluoride is okay.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1777 Dental Assistant Clinic Duties

While employed by or practicing in a primary care clinic or specialty clinic licensed pursuant to Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code, in a primary care clinic exempt from licensure pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, or a clinic owned and operated by a hospital that maintains the primary contract with a county government to fill the county’s role under Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the following shall apply: (a) A dental assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental assistant in extended functions may perform any extraoral duty under the direct supervision of a registered dental hygienist or registered dental hygienist in alternative practice. (b) A registered dental assistant or a registered dental assistant in extended functions may perform the following procedures under the direct supervision of a registered dental hygienist or a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1763: (1) Coronal polishing. (2) Application of topical fluoride. (3) Application of sealants, after providing evidence to the board of having completed a board-approved course in that procedure. (Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 499, Sec. 46. Effective January 1, 2009.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

dental assistantregistered dental assistantregistered dental assistant in extended functionsextraoral dutydirect supervisionregistered dental hygienistregistered dental hygienist in alternative practicecoronal polishingtopical fluoridesealantsboard-approved course

Related Statutes

  • § 1750.3 Orthodontic Assistant Permit Duties
  • § 1752.6 Dental Assistant Sealant Training
  • § 1753.5 Extended Functions Dental Assistants
  • § 1753.51 Dental Assistant Radiograph Determination
  • § 1753.6 Dental Assistant Extended Functions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 1777.
View Official Source