SB25-194
Sunset Dental Practice Act
Concerning the continuation of the "Dental Practice Act".
Session:
2025 Regular Session
Subject:
Bill Summary
Professions & Occupations
- Continuing the act for 9 years, until 2034;
- Updating and adding definitions;
- Changing the makeup of the Colorado dental board (board);
- Requiring the attorney general, in addition to counseling the board, to counsel and advise the board's consultants;
- Adding and updating the grounds for which the board may take disciplinary action against an applicant for licensure or a licensee;
- Allowing a licensee's submission to a mental or physical examination to satisfy the requirement to notify the board of a condition that would impair the licensee's ability to practice;
- Adding as exemptions to the act the volunteer practice of dentistry and dental hygiene under specific conditions;
- Repealing the exceptions that allow a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant to perform certain dentistry practices and including additional tasks to the list of items included in the practice of dentistry;
- Clarifying that a dental assistant, dental hygienist, and dental therapist may perform tasks consistent with rules adopted by the board;
- Requiring providers who perform itinerant surgery to develop and maintain protocols for emergency follow-up care;
- Authorizing licensed dentists to prescribe orders electronically;
- Requiring a peer health assistance program selected as a designated provider for the dentist peer health assistance program to provide training and calibration to dentists who practice monitoring services;
- Authorizing dentists to self-refer to participate in a peer health assistance program or be referred by the board;
- Requiring an applicant for dental, dental hygienist, or dental therapy licensure to pass a jurisprudence examination that tests the applicant's knowledge of the act;
- Removing a requirement that dental education schools and programs must be accredited or approved by a specific entity;
- Requiring the board to adopt rules that allow for expedited, temporary licensure during a public health emergency;
- Repealing specific tasks that are currently authorized to be performed by a dental therapist;
- Updating procedures for the construction of dental devices by an unlicensed technician;
- Updating the list of practices that are considered to be the practice of unsupervised dental hygiene;
- Repealing the specific dosages of certain drugs that a dental hygienist may prescribe;
- Authorizing the board to adopt rules that identify safe prescribing alternatives to silver diamine fluoride as a treatment for strengthening teeth and preventing tooth decay;
- Identifying tasks that are deemed to be practicing supervised dental hygiene;
- Requiring a dental hygienist performing an interim therapeutic restoration to confirm a referral for follow-up care with a dentist;
- Limiting the number of dental hygienists that a dentist may supervise; and
- Authorizing a dental therapist to perform specific tasks.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)