Highlights of the Dental Hygiene Committee of California meeting

							         Highlights of the Dental Hygiene Committee of California meeting
                          Sacramento, December 4-6, 2010

   1. The DHCC reviewed active dental hygiene licensure statistics; 17,870 RDH’s, 31
       RDHEF’s, and 304 RDHAP’s. Twenty fictitious name permits have been issued.
   2. Overall results of the 2010 RDH clinical examinations show an 81% pass rate.
   3. The DHCC is investigating the development of an alternative testing method to
       administer the law and ethics written exam.
   4. The DBC is working on requirements for approval of courses in local anesthetic, nitrous
       oxide-oxygen analgesia and periodontal soft tissue curettage; Sacramento City college
       is currently the only location for this coursework (outside the dental hygiene program
       curriculum).
   5. A sub-committee has been appointed to investigate alternative methods of initial
       licensure through a standardized exit exam for California graduates.
   6. Enforcement Investigations reveal the areas of greatest complaint involves negligence
       and unlicensed (or expired license) practice.
   7. Many hours were spent refining “clean up” language for the Business and Professions
       Code 1900-1966.6, also known as the Dental Hygiene Practice Act, the enactment of
       which permits the full utilization of registered dental hygienists, RDHEFs, and RDHAPs
       in order to meet the dental care needs of all of the state’s citizens. The final product will
       be submitted to the legislature for enactment.
   8. The DHCC heard a proposal to initiate on-line automated license renewal.
   9. Pending regulations include retroactive fingerprinting scheduled to begin April 2011, and
       uniform standards related to substance abuse and disciplinary guidelines.
   10. The DHCC elected 2011 officers as follows: Rhona Lee, RDHEF, President; Alex
       Colero, Vice President; Cathy DiFrancesco, Secretary.

The next Dental Board of California meeting will be held Feb 24-25, 2011, in San Diego.
The next DHCC meeting will be held April 28 and 29, 2011, in Los Angeles

Please visit the DHCC website (www.dhcc.ca.gov) or contact Lori Hubble, Executive Officer at
he DHCC office in Sacramento at (916) 263-1978 for clarification of issues affecting the
education and regulation of the profession of dental hygiene.

                                Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an RDH Provide Local Anesthesia when the Employer/Dentist is Out of the
Office?
       The dentist/employer of record must be present during the procedure. A neighboring
       non-employer, non-dentist of record may not supervise direct-supervision procedures.

2. How do I know if I am an employee or an independent contractor?
      The person I work for tells me that I am an independent contractor and not an employee.
      He does not make any payroll deductions or withholdings for taxes, social security, etc.,
      when he pays me, and at the end of the year he provides me with an IRS form 1099
      rather than a W-2. By paying me in this manner does it mean I am automatically an
      independent contractor?

       The California Department of Industrial Relations provides answers to these and other
       questions on independent contractors at the following link:
        http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_IndependentContractor.htm

Katie L. Dawson, BS, RDHAP
Chair, Government Relations Council