Sunset Dental Practice Act

The act makes changes to the "Dental Practice Act" (act) by:

• Continuing the act for 9 years, until 2034;
• Updating and adding definitions;
• Changing the membership of the Colorado dental board (board);
• Adding to 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 may impair the licensee's ability to practice;
• Adding as exemptions to the act the volunteer practice of dental therapy and dental hygiene under specific conditions;
• Subjecting dentistry practiced by a professional service corporation to certain limits and requirements;
• Repealing exceptions that allow a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant to perform certain dentistry practices and including additional tasks in the practice of dentistry;
• Clarifying that a dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dental therapist may perform tasks consistent with rules adopted by the board;
• Requiring a provider who performs itinerant surgery to develop and maintain protocols for emergency follow-up care;
• Clarifying the authority of a licensed dentist 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 to dentists who practice monitoring services;
• Authorizing a dentist to self-refer to participate in a peer health assistance program or be referred by the board;
• Removing a requirement that dental therapy 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 declared disaster emergency;
• Regulating anesthesia inspectors and requiring the board to design and implement expedited permitting of dentists with certain anesthesia or sedation training;
• Updating the business information a licensee must provide to the board and the circumstances under which providing the information is required;
• Repealing specific tasks that are currently authorized to be performed by a dental hygienist;
• 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 constitute 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 or dental therapists that a dentist may supervise; and
• Authorizing a dental therapist to perform specific tasks.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)