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SB25-194

Sunset Dental Practice Act

Concerning the continuation of the "Dental Practice Act".
Session:
2025 Regular Session
Subject:
Professions & Occupations
Bill Summary

Sunset Process - Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The bill makes changes to the "Dental Practice Act" (act) by:

  • 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.)

Status

Introduced
Under Consideration

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Bill Text

Sponsors

Sponsor Type Legislators
Prime Sponsor

Sen. D. Michaelson Jenet, Sen. K. Mullica
Rep. M. Duran

Sponsor

Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. L. Frizell

Co-sponsor

Upcoming Schedule

The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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