Dental Board of California

The Dental Board of California (Board) licenses and regulates approximately 104,000 dental professionals. The Board licenses, monitors, and disciplines dentists, registered dental assistants (RDAs), and registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs). The Board sets the duties and functions of unlicensed dental assistants. The Board issues many types of permits to administer dental anesthesia and sedation, as well as orthodontic assistant and dental sedation assistant permits. Finally, the Board approves dental educational programs and courses required for practice, licensure, and continuing education.

In carrying out this complex work, the Board’s highest priority is the protection of the public. While working to enable dental professionals to practice in California, the Board licenses only those individuals who are qualified. And while addressing the needs and concerns of dentists and dental auxiliaries, the Board investigates complaints against licensees and enforces the Dental Practice Act.

News and Alerts

    The Dental Assisting Council Meeting was scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024, but was cancelled. The Dental Board of California is providing the statistical reports that would have been presented at the February 2024 Council Meeting to the public to ensure the information is shared timely.

    Update on Dental Assisting Examination Statistics
    Update on Dental Assisting Licensing Statistics
    Update on RDA and RDAEF Educational Programs and Courses Applications

    Assembly Bill (AB) 936 (Wood, Chapter 550, Statutes of 2023) expands the pool of dental students eligible to practice dentistry at free sponsored health care events without being licensed by the Dental Board of California (Board). Eligibility has been extended to dental students who have begun their clinical training at a dental school approved by the Board. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 1626.6.) In addition to other requirements, AB 936 specifies that for clinical procedures, the designated supervising faculty is responsible for assessing the patient treated by the student and determining if the assigned student has the skill level necessary to provide that patient care. This bill took immediate effect on October 8, 2023, to provide needed care to underserved people at free health care and dental clinics and provide dental students with the opportunity to learn the importance of giving back to their communities.

    The following links provide information about free dental health care events in California:

    Medi-Cal Dental Program
    Events | Smile California

  • Fingerprint Requirement for License Renewal - February 2, 2024
  • Recruitment Notice - Dental Assisting Council Extended Functions
  • Beginning August 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances will be required to report dispensations to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) using version 4.2B of the American Society of Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) format. On and after this date, data submitted using the current CURES ASAP version 4.1 format will no longer be accepted.

    Prompt action by licensees who dispense controlled substances is recommended. Technical implementation of this update to data submission software may take considerable time. Contact your data submission software provider and confirm they are preparing for this upcoming ASAP version change.

    The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has shared information about the ASAP format change and suggested action steps for data submitters. Please visit the OAG’s CURES Website frequently for updates and informational bulletins.

    For information about CURES, visit DCA’s CURES information page.

  • The Dental Board of California Background Information and Overview of the Current Regulatory Program has been submitted to the California State Legislature for the 2024 Sunset Review Oversight Hearing
  • Recruitment Notice - Dental Assisting Council
  • Beginning August 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances will be required to report dispensations to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) using version 4.2B of the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) format. On and after this date, data submitted using the current CURES ASAP version 4.1 format will no longer be accepted.

    Prompt action by licensees who dispense controlled substances is recommended. Technical implementation of this update to data submission software may take considerable time. Contact your data submission software provider and confirm that they are preparing for this upcoming ASAP version change.

    For more information about the ASAP format change and suggested action steps for data submitters, please see the Department of Justice informational bulletin New File Format for Reporting to CURES on the Office of the Attorney General's CURES website.

    For information about CURES, visit DCA’s CURES information page.

    The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has learned of a recent scam aimed at licensees of the Dental Board of California (Board). In this scheme, a caller falsely identifies themselves as an employee or investigator of the Board and claims the licensee’s license was suspended. The caller demands the licensee make a payment immediately to reinstate their license.
    Callers may be “spoofing” Board telephone numbers to make the calls appear to be coming from the Board, and/or using fake Board letterhead to add authenticity to the scam.
    If you receive a call from an individual claiming to be a Board employee who is attempting to gather your personal and financial information, please consider the following:

    • Refuse payment. Never disclose banking or credit card numbers without first taking steps to verify that the person requesting the information has a legitimate need for it.
    • Never disclose personal information to the caller such as Social Security Numbers or dates of birth.
    • Take down the caller’s information (including name, title, phone number, and email address), let them know you will follow-up directly with the Board, and end the call.
    • You may also consider ending the call without explanation if it appears suspicious or to be a scam.
    • Contact the Board at dentalboard@dca.ca.gov.
    • Report the call to local law enforcement authorities.
    • Be aware that Board and DCA staff will never ask for credit/debit card information over the phone.
    • Read the Board’s fraud alert for more tips and directions for contacting the Board to inquire if you are the subject of an official investigation.

    Effective July 1, 2023, the Dental Board of California and all other Department of Consumer Affairs licensing boards and bureaus are required to grant temporary licensure to the spouse or domestic partner of an active-duty military member stationed in California if the applicant is currently licensed and holds an active and unrestricted license in another state with the same scope of practice as the profession in California for which they would like to practice. This applicant population also receives expedited processing and initial application and license fee waivers. Applications for this temporary licensure are available through the board or bureau with jurisdiction over the type of license being sought.

    For the requirements and additional information, please visit https://www.dbc.ca.gov/applicants/temp_lic.shtml

    Between Wednesday, June 28, 2023 and Friday, June 30, 2023, you will NOT be able to schedule a testing date for the Dental Board's written examinations. The scheduling website of the Board's examination administrator, PSI Services LLC (PSI), will be down for routine maintenance from June 28 to June 30. Please plan to schedule before June 28 or after June 30.

    This alert applies to the following examinations:

    • Dental Law and Ethics
    • Registered Dental Assistant General and Law and Ethics (Combined)
    • Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions
    • Orthodontic Assistant
    • Dental Sedation Assistant

    The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) fee will decrease from $11 to $9 annually for licenses expiring on and after July 1, 2023. The fee is assessed at the time of license renewal on licensees that prescribe, order, administer, or furnish Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances.

    Most licensees will see an $18 CURES Fee due to the biennial renewal cycle. The fee covers the reasonable regulatory costs of the Department of Justice for operating and maintaining CURES, a critical element in the state’s effort to address the growing danger of opioid addiction stemming from prescription drug abuse.

    For more information about CURES, visit: https://oag.ca.gov/cures.

  • The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Transitions to a New Logo in 2023
  • Important Reminder: Following the anticipated termination of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency on February 28, 2023, health care providers licensed out-of-state who received the Emergency Medical Services Authority’s (EMSA) authorization to practice in the state without a license issued by the Dental Board of California will no longer be permitted to practice pursuant to that authorization after that date. Dentists, registered dental assistants, and registered dental assistants in extended functions who have not received California licensure and wish to continue practicing, should view the website www.dbc.ca.gov, call (916) 263-2300, or email DentalBoard@dca.ca.gov for information on how to obtain licensure in California and/or temporary licensure options.

    Please note, individuals wishing to continue to practice in California should submit an application and the necessary documentation for licensure immediately as the EMSA out-of-state medical personnel authorization approval concludes on February 28, 2023, and no further practice pursuant to that authorization will be permitted.

    The California State Board of Pharmacy has created an online registry for health care professionals to register for an exemption to requirements to issue prescriptions as electronic data transmission prescriptions – also known as e-prescriptions – pursuant to AB 852 (Chapter 518, Statutes of 2022).

    In addition, the Board has created an online confirmation registry for verifying a health care professional has registered for an exemption to the e-prescription requirements.

    AB 852 makes several changes to e-prescribing requirements in California, including:

    1. Provides authority for pharmacies, pharmacists, and authorized practitioners to decline to dispense or furnish an electronic prescription submitted via software that does not meet specified requirements.
    2. Creates additional exemptions from electronic prescriptions as specified.
    3. Requires a prescriber exempt from electronic prescribing to register annually with the Board and state they meet one or more of the specified criteria.
    4. Exempts the prescription transfer requirements under specified conditions.

    Links to both the online registry for health care professionals and the online confirmation registry can be found under “What’s New” and under “Quick Hits” column on Board’s website, www.pharmacy.ca.gov.

  • Important Notice: Changes to Continuing Education Courses Required for License Renewal Effective January 1, 2023
  • Senate Bill (SB) 501, Anesthesia and Sedation Regulations Approval