SB 784

This bill provides for the licensure of dental therapists, who are health care

practitioners who may engage in the limited practice of dentistry.

Under current law, dentists and dental hygienists are licensed by the Dentistry

Examining Board to practice dentistry and dental hygiene, respectively. This bill

provides for the licensure of a third type of dental practitioner, dental therapists.

Under the bill, the board must grant a dental therapist license to an individual who

satisfies certain criteria, including completion of a dental therapy program and

passage of required examinations.

Dental therapists may provide dental therapy services only under the general

supervision of a dentist with whom the dental therapist has a collaborative

management agreement that addresses various aspects of the dental therapist's

practice. Supervision by a dentist requires the dentist's prior knowledge and

consent, but does not require the presence of the dentist at the time a task or

procedure is being performed or prior examination or diagnosis of a patient by a

dentist prior to the provision of dental therapy services by a dental therapist. Dental

therapists are, subject to the terms of a collaborative management agreement,

limited to providing services, treatments, and procedures that are specified in the

bill, as well as additional services, treatments, or procedures specified by the board

by rule. Dental therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education each

biennium.

The bill subjects dental therapists to, or covers dental therapists under, various

other laws, including the health care records law, the volunteer health care provider

program, the health care worker protection law, and the emergency volunteer health

care practitioner law. The bill also provides for loan forgiveness for dental therapists

under the health care provider loan assistance program.

Finally, the bill requires, effective when the first individual becomes licensed

as a dental therapist in this state, that two dental therapists be added to the board.