BILL ANALYSIS
AB 667
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 28, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 667 (Block) - As Amended: April 2, 2009
SUBJECT : Topical fluoride application.
SUMMARY : Clarifies that any person, including dental
assistants and non-health care personnel, may apply topical
fluoride varnish in public health and school-based settings
according to the prescription and protocol of a dentist or
physician. Specifically, this bill :
1)Permits a dental assistant to apply topical fluoride under the
general direction of a licensed dentist or physician when
operating in a school-based setting or public health program.
2)Specifies that any person may apply topical fluoride,
including fluoride varnish, within a public health setting or
public health program, according to the prescription and
protocol issued and established by a dentist or physician.
3)Clarifies that the topical fluoride program is required to be
under the direction of a licensed dentist and may include
self-application or application by another person in
accordance with the prescription and protocol established by
the dentist.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Permits a dental assistant to perform specified duties,
including topical fluoride applications, under the general
supervision of a supervising licensed dentist.
2)Establishes community dental disease prevention programs
(CDDPP) that may be offered to school children in preschool
through sixth grade, and in classes for individuals with
exceptional needs, by a local sponsor. Permits the local
sponsor to be a city or county health department, county
office of education, superintendent of schools office, school
district, or other public or private nonprofit agency approved
by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
3)Requires the CDDPP components to include educational programs
AB 667
Page 2
that promote dental health and specified preventive services,
including ongoing plaque control, dental sealants, and
supervised application of topical prophylactic agents for
caries prevention, as approved by DPH.
4)Requires students of public and private elementary and
secondary schools, except students of community colleges, to
be provided the opportunity to receive within the school year
the topical application of fluoride or other decay-preventing
agent in a manner approved by DPH. Specifies that the topical
application program must be under the general direction of a
licensed dentist and may include self-application.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to author's office, "This bill
would clarify current law to ensure that any person (including
non-healthcare professionals) may apply fluoride varnish once a
prescription and established protocol have been issued for its
use in public health and school-based settings. This simple
clarification would create a cost-effective and safe opportunity
to help reduce dental disease in high-risk populations."
Background . According to information provided by the bill's
sponsors, the California Dental Association (CDA), tooth decay
affects over 50% of California's children by the time they reach
kindergarten, and low-income children are at greatest risk.
Children with high-risk factors for tooth decay benefit most
from the application of fluoride varnish, a newer form of
high-concentration topical fluoride that is easily "painted" on
teeth two to four times a year. According to CDA, most
community and school-based health programs use less effective
fluoride rinses or supplements because they can be administered
by non-health care providers, such as teachers, parents, or
volunteers, once they have been prescribed by a dentist or
physician. However, the law is currently unclear regarding
whether it is legal for these non-healthcare personnel to
administer fluoride varnish.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 667
Page 3
California Dental Association (sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301