LCO \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-R01-
HB.docx
1 of 19
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7303
January Session, 2019
AN ACT CONCERNING DE NTAL PRACTITIONERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 20-107 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020): 2
(a) Each application for a license to practice dentistry shall be [in 3
writing and signed by] submitted by the applicant and no license shall 4
be issued to any person unless he or she presents (1) a diploma or 5
other certificate of graduation conferring a dental degree from [some 6
reputable] a dental college or from a department of dentistry of a 7
medical college [conferring a dental degree, or unless he or she is 8
practicing as a legally qualified dentist in another state having 9
requirements for admission determined by the department to be 10
similar to or higher than the requirements of this state] accredited by 11
the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental 12
Accreditation or its successor organization; (2) evidence of satisfactory 13
completion of a written examination or examinations given by the 14
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, subject to such 15
conditions as the State Dental Commission as described in section 20-16
103a, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, may 17
prescribe; and (3) evidence of satisfactory completion of at least one 18
year of a clinically based postdoctoral general practice or specialty 19
dental residency program accredited by the Commission on Dental 20 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
2 of 19
Accreditation, or its successor organization. 21
[(b) The Dental Commission may, with the consent of the 22
Commissioner of Public Health, determine the colleges which shall be 23
considered reputable dental or medical colleges for the purposes of 24
this chapter. The commission shall consult when possible with 25
nationally recognized accrediting agencies when making such 26
determinations.] 27
[(c)] (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of [subsections] subsection 28
(a) [and (b)] of this section, the department may issue a license to 29
practice dentistry to any applicant holding a diploma from a foreign 30
dental school, provided the applicant: (1) [is] Is a graduate of a dental 31
school located outside the United States and has received the degree of 32
doctor of dental medicine or surgery, or its equivalent; (2) [has] passed 33
the written and practical examination or examinations required in 34
subsection (a) of this section or section 20-108, as amended by this act; 35
(3) [has] successfully completed not less than two years of graduate 36
dental training as a resident dentist in a program accredited by the 37
Commission on Dental Accreditation; and (4) [has] successfully 38
completed, at a level greater than the second postgraduate year, not 39
less than three years of a residency or fellowship training program 40
accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in a school of 41
dentistry in this state, or has served as a full-time faculty member of a 42
school of dentistry in this state pursuant to the provisions of section 43
20-120 for not less than three years. 44
Sec. 2. Section 20-108 of the general statutes is repealed and the 45
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020): 46
[(a) Except as provided in section 20-110 and subsection (b) of this 47
section, each applicant for a license to practice dental medicine or 48
dental surgery shall be examined by the Department of Public Health, 49
under the supervision of the Dental Commission as to his or her 50
professional knowledge and skill before such license is granted. Such 51
examination shall be conducted in the English language.] The State 52 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
3 of 19
Dental Commission may, with the consent of the Commissioner of 53
Public Health, accept and approve [, in lieu of the written examination 54
required by this section, the results of an examination given by the 55
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, subject to such 56
conditions as the commission may prescribe, and the Dental 57
Commission with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, 58
may accept and approve, in lieu of the written and practical 59
examination required by this section,] the results of [regional testing 60
agencies as to written and] clinical or practical examinations, subject to 61
such conditions as [the] said commission, with the consent of the 62
Commissioner of Public Health, may prescribe in lieu of the clinically 63
based postdoctoral general practice or specialty dental residency 64
program required pursuant to subsection (a) of section 20-107, as 65
amended by this act. On and after July 1, 2021, or upon the State 66
Dental Commission's approval of examinations that do not require the 67
participation of patients, whichever is earlier, such clinical or practical 68
examinations shall not require the participation of patients. Passing 69
scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the 70
commission. 71
[(b) In lieu of the practical examination required by subsection (a) of 72
this section, an applicant for licensure may submit evidence of having 73
successfully completed not less than one year of graduate dental 74
training as a resident dentist in a program accredited by the 75
Commission on Dental Accreditation, provided the director of the 76
dental residency program at the facility in which the applicant 77
completed the residency training provides documentation satisfactory 78
to the Department of Public Health attesting to the resident dentist's 79
competency in all areas tested on the practical examination required by 80
subsection (a) of this section. Not later than December 1, 2005, the 81
Dental Commission, in consultation with the Department of Public 82
Health, shall develop a form upon which such documentation shall be 83
provided.] 84
Sec. 3. Section 20-110 of the general statutes is repealed and the 85 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
4 of 19
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020): 86
The Department of Public Health may, upon receipt of an 87
application and a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars, issue a license 88
without examination to a practicing dentist in another state or territory 89
who (1) holds a current valid license in good professional standing 90
issued after examination by another state or territory that maintains 91
licensing standards which, except for the practical examination, are 92
commensurate with the state's standards, and (2) has worked 93
continuously as a licensed dentist in an academic or clinical setting in 94
another state or territory for a period of not less than [five years] one 95
year immediately preceding the application for licensure without 96
examination. No license shall be issued under this section to any 97
applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or 98
who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall 99
inform the Dental Commission annually of the number of applications 100
it receives for licensure under this section. 101
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2020) (a) As used in this section: 102
(1) "Practice of advanced dental therapy" means the performance of 103
educational, preventive and therapeutic services through any one or 104
more of the following practices and procedures: (A) Identification of 105
oral and systemic conditions requiring evaluation or treatment by 106
dentists, physicians or other health care providers, and management of 107
referrals to dentists, physicians and other health care providers; (B) 108
diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and conditions that are within 109
the advanced practice dental therapist scope of practice; (C) 110
comprehensive charting of the oral cavity; (D) oral health instruction 111
and disease prevention education, including nutritional counseling 112
and dietary analysis; (E) dispensing and administering of nonnarcotic 113
analgesics and anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications as 114
prescribed by a licensed health care provider, except schedule II, III or 115
IV controlled substances; (F) applying topical preventive or 116
prophylactic agents, including fluoride varnish, antimicrobial agents 117
and pit and fissure sealants; (G) pulp vitality testing; (H) applying 118 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
5 of 19
desensitizing medication or resin in the oral cavity; (I) interim 119
therapeutic restorations; (J) fabricating athletic mouth guards; (K) 120
changing periodontal dressings; (L) administering local anesthetics in 121
the oral cavity under the general supervision of a dentist; (M) simple 122
extraction of erupted primary teeth; (N) nonsurgical extraction of 123
periodontally diseased permanent teeth with tooth mobility of three or 124
greater, except a tooth that is unerupted, impacted, fractured or needs 125
to be sectioned for removal; (O) emergency palliative treatment of 126
dental pain; (P) preparation and placement of direct restoration in 127
primary and permanent teeth that does not require the fabrication of 128
crowns, bridges, veneers or dentures; (Q) fabrication and placement of 129
single-tooth temporary crowns; (R) preparation and placement of 130
preformed crowns on primary teeth; (S) indirect and direct pulp 131
capping on permanent teeth; (T) indirect pulp capping on primary 132
teeth; (U) dental suture removal; (V) minor adjustments and repairs on 133
removable prostheses; (W) placement and removal of space 134
maintainers; and (X) recementing permanent crowns; 135
(2) "Collaborative agreement" means a written agreement between 136
an advanced practice dental therapist and a dentist licensed pursuant 137
to chapter 379 of the general statutes, that defines the working 138
relationship between the advanced practice dental therapist and the 139
dentist and the parameters of the practice provided by such advanced 140
practice dental therapist in accordance with subdivision (1) of this 141
subsection; 142
(3) "Advanced practice dental therapist" means a person authorized 143
to engage in the practice of advanced practice dental therapy under a 144
collaborative agreement; and 145
(4) "Public health facility" has the same meaning as provided in 146
section 20-126l of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 147
(b) No person shall engage in the advanced practice of dental 148
therapy unless such person (1) is a dental hygienist licensed pursuant 149
to chapter 379a of the general statutes; (2) has obtained an advanced 150 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
6 of 19
practice dental therapist certification that is (A) in writing, on a form 151
issued by an institution of higher education accredited by the 152
Commission on Dental Accreditation after successful completion of an 153
advanced dental therapy program that includes, in accordance with 154
the Commission on Dental Accreditation's accreditation standards for 155
dental therapy education programs, full-time instruction or its 156
equivalent at the postsecondary college level and incorporates all 157
advanced dental therapy practice competencies, (B) signed by the 158
advanced practice dental therapist and the director of the dental 159
therapy education program, and (C) made available to the Department 160
of Public Health upon request; (3) has successfully completed a 161
comprehensive examination prescribed by the Commission on Dental 162
Competency Assessments, or its equivalent, and administered 163
independently of any institution of higher education that offers a 164
program in advanced practice dental therapy; (4) prior to entering the 165
first collaborative agreement, (A) has received a certificate of 166
completion, signed by a dentist licensed pursuant to chapter 379 of the 167
general statutes, that verifies completion of one thousand hours of 168
clinical training under the direct supervision of such dentist, and (B) 169
has successfully completed six hours of continuing education related 170
to dental therapy; and (5) has entered into a collaborative agreement 171
with a dentist. 172
(c) An advanced practice dental therapist shall practice in a public 173
health facility under the general supervision of a dentist licensed 174
pursuant to chapter 379 of the general statutes in accordance with a 175
collaborative agreement. 176
(d) No provision of this section shall be construed to prohibit a 177
dental hygienist enrolled in an advanced practice dental therapy 178
program, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this 179
section, from performing dental therapy work as a required 180
component of his or her course of study in such program, provided 181
such dental hygienist (1) performs such work under the direct 182
supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to chapter 379 of the general 183 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
7 of 19
statutes, (2) shall not hold himself or herself out as a certified advanced 184
practice dental therapist, and (3) shall not receive compensation for 185
such work. 186
(e) (1) A collaborative agreement entered into pursuant to 187
subsection (b) of this section shall include: (A) Identification of public 188
health facilities where services may be provided and the populations 189
to be served; (B) any limitations on the services that may be provided 190
by the advanced practice dental therapist; (C) age and procedure-191
specific practice protocols, including case selection criteria, assessment 192
guidelines and imaging frequency; (D) a procedure for creating and 193
maintaining dental records for the patients that are treated by the 194
advanced practice dental therapist; (E) a plan to manage medical 195
emergencies in each public health facility where the advanced practice 196
dental therapist provides care; (F) a quality assurance plan for 197
monitoring care provided by the advanced practice dental therapist, 198
including patient care review, referral follow-up and a quality 199
assurance chart review; (G) protocols for dispensing and administering 200
medications, including the specific conditions and circumstances 201
under which these medications may be dispensed and administered; 202
(H) criteria relating to the provision of care to patients with specific 203
medical conditions or complex medication histories, including 204
requirements for consultation prior to the initiation of care; (I) criteria 205
for the supervision of dental assistants, expanded function dental 206
assistants, as defined in section 20-112a of the general statutes, as 207
amended by this act, and dental hygienists in accordance with 208
subsection (g) of this section; and (J) a plan for the provision of 209
referrals in situations that are beyond the capabilities or the scope of 210
practice of the advanced practice dental therapist. 211
(2) A collaborative agreement shall be (A) signed and maintained by 212
the supervising dentist and the advanced practice dental therapist and 213
kept on file at the locations where such advanced practice dental 214
therapist is employed, (B) reviewed by the dentist and advanced 215
practice dental therapist on an annual basis and revised as needed, and 216 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
8 of 19
(C) available for inspection upon the request of the Department of 217
Public Health. 218
(f) A dentist who enters into a collaborative agreement with an 219
advanced practice dental therapist (1) shall be professionally 220
responsible and legally liable for all services authorized and performed 221
by an advanced practice dental therapist pursuant to a collaborative 222
agreement, and (2) may not enter into a collaborative agreement with 223
more than two advanced practice dental therapists at any one time. 224
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a dentist to enter 225
into a collaborative agreement with an advanced practice dental 226
therapist. 227
(g) An advanced practice dental therapist may directly supervise 228
not more than two dental assistants or expanded function dental 229
assistants, as defined in section 20-112a of the general statutes, as 230
amended by this act, or dental hygienists licensed pursuant to chapter 231
379a of the general statutes to the extent permitted in the collaborative 232
agreement. 233
(h) (1) Upon each renewal of a dental hygiene license pursuant to 234
chapter 379a of the general statutes, each advanced practice dental 235
therapist shall complete six hours of continuing education in addition 236
to the continuing education requirements of subsection (g) of section 237
20-126l of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for a total of six 238
hours of continuing education during a dental hygienist's first license 239
renewal period and for a total of twenty-two hours of continuing 240
education during each renewal period thereafter. 241
(2) Each advanced practice dental therapist applying for a renewal 242
of a dental hygiene license pursuant to chapter 379a of the general 243
statutes and in accordance with section 19a-88 of the general statutes 244
shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the 245
continuing education requirements described in subdivision (1) of this 246
subsection on a form prescribed by the Department of Public Health. 247
Each advanced practice dental therapist shall retain records of 248 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
9 of 19
attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance 249
with the continuing education requirements described in subdivision 250
(1) of this subsection for not less than three years following the date on 251
which the continuing education was completed or the license was 252
renewed. Each advanced practice dental therapist shall submit such 253
records to the department for inspection not later than forty-five days 254
after a request by the department for such records. An advanced 255
practice dental therapist who fails to comply with the provisions of 256
this section may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 257
20-126o of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 258
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 20-126o of the general statutes is 259
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 260
January 1, 2020): 261
(a) The Department of Public Health may take any of the actions set 262
forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following causes: (1) The 263
presentation to the department of any diploma, license or certificate 264
illegally or fraudulently obtained, or obtained from an institution that 265
is not accredited or from an unrecognized or irregular institution or 266
state board, or obtained by the practice of any fraud or deception; (2) 267
illegal conduct; (3) negligent, incompetent or wrongful conduct in 268
professional activities; (4) conviction of the violation of any of the 269
provisions of sections 20-126h to 20-126w, inclusive, or section 4 of this 270
act by any court of criminal jurisdiction; (5) the violation of any of the 271
provisions of said sections or of the regulations adopted hereunder or 272
the refusal to comply with any of said provisions or regulations; (6) the 273
aiding or abetting in the practice of dental hygiene of a person not 274
licensed to practice dental hygiene in this state; (7) engaging in fraud 275
or material deception in the course of professional activities; (8) the 276
effects of physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of 277
motor skill, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the 278
aging process, upon the license holder; (9) abuse or excessive use of 279
drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; or (10) failure to 280
provide information to the Department of Public Health required to 281 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
10 of 19
complete a health care provider profile, as set forth in section 20-13j. A 282
violation of any of the provisions of sections 20-126h to 20-126w, 283
inclusive, or section 4 of this act by any unlicensed employee in the 284
practice of dental hygiene, with the knowledge of his or her employer, 285
shall be deemed a violation thereof by his or her employer. The 286
Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to 287
a reasonable physical or mental examination if his or her physical or 288
mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said 289
commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of 290
Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to said 291
section 19a-17. 292
Sec. 6. Section 20-126t of the general statutes is repealed and the 293
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020): 294
Any person who violates any provision of sections 20-126h to 20-295
126w, inclusive, or section 4 of this act shall be guilty of a class D 296
felony. Any person who continues to practice dental hygiene or engage 297
as a dental hygienist, after his license or authority to so do has been 298
suspended or revoked and while such disability continues, shall be 299
guilty of a class D felony. For the purposes of this section, each 300
instance of patient contact or consultation which is in violation of any 301
provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to 302
renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for 303
the purposes of this section. 304
Sec. 7. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 20-112a of the general 305
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 306
(Effective January 1, 2020): 307
(c) (1) A licensed dentist may delegate to dental assistants such 308
dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including: (A) 309
The taking of dental x-rays if the dental assistant can demonstrate 310
successful completion of the dental radiation health and safety 311
examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board; (B) 312
the taking of impressions of teeth for study models; and (C) the 313 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
11 of 19
provision of fluoride varnish treatments. Such procedures shall be 314
performed under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and the 315
dentist providing direct supervision shall assume responsibility for 316
such procedures. 317
(2) A licensed dentist may delegate to an expanded function dental 318
assistant such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, 319
including: (A) The placing, finishing and adjustment of temporary 320
restorations and long-term individual fillings, capping materials and 321
cement bases; (B) oral health education for patients; (C) dental sealants; 322
[and] (D) coronal polishing, provided the procedure is not represented 323
or billed as prophylaxis; (E) administration of topical anesthetic under 324
the direct supervision of the dentist prior to the administration of local 325
anesthetic by a dentist or dental hygienist; and (F) taking alginate 326
impressions of teeth, under the direct supervision of the dentist, for 327
use in study models, orthodontic appliances, whitening trays, mouth 328
guards or fabrication of temporary crowns. Such procedures shall be 329
performed under [the] either direct or indirect supervision, except as 330
specifically provided in this subdivision, and the dentist providing 331
such supervision shall assume responsibility for such procedures. 332
(3) On or after July 1, 2018, (A) no licensed dentist may delegate 333
dental procedures to a dental assistant or expanded function dental 334
assistant unless the dental assistant or expanded function dental 335
assistant provides records demonstrating successful completion of the 336
Dental Assisting National Board's infection control examination or an 337
infection control competency assessment administered by a dental 338
education program in the state that is accredited by the American 339
Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, except as 340
provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, (B) a dental assistant 341
may receive not more than [nine] fifteen months of on-the-job training 342
by a licensed dentist for purposes of preparing the dental assistant for 343
the Dental Assisting National Board's infection control examination, 344
and (C) any licensed dentist who delegates dental procedures to a 345
dental assistant shall retain and make such records available for 346 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
12 of 19
inspection upon request of the Department of Public Health. 347
(4) On and after January 1, 2018, upon successful completion of the 348
Dental Assisting National Board's infection control examination or an 349
infection control competency assessment administered by a dental 350
education program in the state that is accredited by the American 351
Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, each dental 352
assistant or expanded function dental assistant shall complete not less 353
than one hour of training or education in infection control in a dental 354
setting every two years, including, but not limited to, courses, 355
including online courses, offered or approved by a dental school or 356
another institution of higher education that is accredited or recognized 357
by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a regional accrediting 358
organization, the American Dental Association or a state, district or 359
local dental association or society affiliated with the American Dental 360
Association or the American Dental Assistants Association. 361
(d) [Under] Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, 362
under no circumstances may a dental assistant or expanded function 363
dental assistant engage in: (1) Diagnosis for dental procedures or 364
dental treatment; (2) the cutting or removal of any hard or soft tissue 365
or suturing; (3) the prescribing of drugs or medications that require the 366
written or oral order of a licensed dentist or physician; (4) the 367
administration of local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic 368
agents in connection with any dental operative procedure; (5) the 369
taking of any final impression of the teeth or jaws or the relationship of 370
the teeth or jaws for the purpose of fabricating any appliance or 371
prosthesis; or (6) the practice of dental hygiene as defined in section 372
20-126l, as amended by this act. 373
Sec. 8. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 20-126c of the general 374
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 375
(Effective January 1, 2020): 376
(a) As used in this section: 377 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
13 of 19
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health; 378
(2) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing 379
education activity; 380
(3) "Department" means the Department of Public Health; 381
(4) "Licensee" means any person who receives a license from the 382
department pursuant to this chapter; [and] 383
(5) "Registration period" means the one-year period for which a 384
license renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 is current and valid; 385
and 386
(6) "Temporary dental clinic" means a dental clinic that provides 387
dental care services at no cost to uninsured or underinsured persons 388
and operates for not more than seventy-two consecutive hours. 389
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a licensee applying 390
for license renewal shall earn a minimum of twenty-five contact hours 391
of continuing education within the preceding twenty-four-month 392
period. Such continuing education shall (1) be in an area of the 393
licensee's practice; (2) reflect the professional needs of the licensee in 394
order to meet the health care needs of the public; and (3) include not 395
less than one contact hour of training or education in (A) any three of 396
the ten mandatory topics for continuing education activities prescribed 397
by the commissioner pursuant to this subdivision, (B) for registration 398
periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, infection control in a 399
dental setting, and (C) prescribing controlled substances and pain 400
management. For registration periods beginning on and after October 401
1, 2011, the Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the 402
Dental Commission, shall on or before October 1, 2010, and biennially 403
thereafter, issue a list that includes ten mandatory topics for 404
continuing education activities that will be required for the following 405
two-year registration period. Qualifying continuing education 406
activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line 407
courses, offered or approved by the American Dental Association or 408 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
14 of 19
state, district or local dental associations and societies affiliated with 409
the American Dental Association; national, state, district or local dental 410
specialty organizations or the American Academy of General 411
Dentistry; a hospital or other health care institution; dental schools and 412
other schools of higher education accredited or recognized by the 413
Council on Dental Accreditation or a regional accrediting organization; 414
agencies or businesses whose programs are accredited or recognized 415
by the Council on Dental Accreditation; local, state or national medical 416
associations; a state or local health department; or the Accreditation 417
Council for Graduate Medical Education. Eight hours of volunteer 418
dental practice at a public health facility, as defined in section 20-126l, 419
as amended by this act, or a temporary dental clinic may be 420
substituted for one contact hour of continuing education, up to a 421
maximum of ten contact hours in one twenty-four-month period. 422
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 20-126l of the general statutes is 423
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 424
January 1, 2020): 425
(a) As used in this section: 426
(1) "General supervision of a licensed dentist" means supervision 427
that authorizes dental hygiene procedures to be performed with the 428
knowledge of said licensed dentist, whether or not the dentist is on the 429
premises when such procedures are being performed; 430
(2) "Public health facility" means an institution, as defined in section 431
19a-490, a community health center, a group home, a school, a 432
preschool operated by a local or regional board of education, a head 433
start program or a program offered or sponsored by the federal Special 434
Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, a 435
senior center or a managed residential community, as defined in 436
section 19a-693, [or] a licensed child care center, as described in section 437
19a-77, or a temporary dental clinic, as defined in section 20-126c, as 438
amended by this act; 439 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
15 of 19
(3) The "practice of dental hygiene" means the performance of 440
educational, preventive and therapeutic services including: Complete 441
prophylaxis; the removal of calcerous deposits, accretions and stains 442
from the supragingival and subgingival surfaces of the teeth by 443
scaling, root planing and polishing; the application of pit and fissure 444
sealants and topical solutions to exposed portions of the teeth; dental 445
hygiene examinations and the charting of oral conditions; dental 446
hygiene assessment, treatment planning and evaluation; the 447
administration of local anesthesia in accordance with the provisions of 448
subsection (d) of this section; taking alginate impressions of teeth, 449
under the indirect supervision of a dentist, for use in study models, 450
orthodontic appliances, whitening trays, mouth guards and fabrication 451
of temporary crowns; and collaboration in the implementation of the 452
oral health care regimen; and 453
(4) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing 454
education activity. 455
Sec. 10. Subsection (g) of section 20-126l of the general statutes is 456
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 457
January 1, 2020): 458
(g) Each licensed dental hygienist applying for license renewal shall 459
earn a minimum of sixteen contact hours of continuing education 460
within the preceding twenty-four-month period, including, for 461
registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, at least 462
one contact hour of training or education in infection control in a 463
dental setting and, for registration periods beginning on and after 464
October 1, 2017, at least one contact hour of training or education in 465
cultural competency. The subject matter for continuing education shall 466
reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the health 467
care needs of the public. Continuing education activities shall provide 468
significant theoretical or practical content directly related to clinical or 469
scientific aspects of dental hygiene. Qualifying continuing education 470
activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line 471
courses, that are offered or approved by dental schools and other 472 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
16 of 19
institutions of higher education that are accredited or recognized by 473
the Council on Dental Accreditation, a regional accrediting 474
organization, the American Dental Association, a state, district or local 475
dental association or society affiliated with the American Dental 476
Association, the National Dental Association, the American Dental 477
Hygienists Association or a state, district or local dental hygiene 478
association or society affiliated with the American Dental Hygienists 479
Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Academy of 480
Dental Hygiene, the American Red Cross or the American Heart 481
Association when sponsoring programs in cardiopulmonary 482
resuscitation or cardiac life support, the United States Department of 483
Veterans Affairs and armed forces of the United States when 484
conducting programs at United States governmental facilities, a 485
hospital or other health care institution, agencies or businesses whose 486
programs are accredited or recognized by the Council on Dental 487
Accreditation, local, state or national medical associations, or a state or 488
local health department. Eight hours of volunteer dental practice at a 489
public health facility, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, may 490
be substituted for one contact hour of continuing education, up to a 491
maximum of five contact hours in one two-year period. Activities that 492
do not qualify toward meeting these requirements include professional 493
organizational business meetings, speeches delivered at luncheons or 494
banquets, and the reading of books, articles, or professional journals. 495
[Not more than four contact hours of continuing education may be 496
earned through an on-line or other distance learning program.] 497
Sec. 11. Section 20-126l of the general statutes is amended by adding 498
subsection (l) as follows (Effective January 1, 2020): 499
(NEW) (l) No provision of chapter 379a shall be construed to 500
prohibit a student of dental hygiene enrolled in a dental hygiene 501
program, as described in section 20-126i, from performing dental 502
hygiene work as a required component of his or her course of study in 503
such program, provided the student (1) performs such work under the 504
direct supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to chapter 379 or a 505 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
17 of 19
dental hygienist licensed pursuant to chapter 379a, (2) shall not hold 506
himself or herself out as a licensed dental hygienist, and (3) shall not 507
receive compensation for such work. 508
Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2019) The chairpersons of the joint standing 509
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 510
relating to public health shall convene a working group to advise said 511
joint standing committee regarding the certification of dental 512
therapists by the Department of Public Health. The working group 513
shall be comprised of the chairpersons of said joint standing 514
committee, or the chairpersons' designees, the Commissioner of Public 515
Health, or the commissioner's designee, representatives of the 516
Connecticut State Dental Association, including, but not limited to, at 517
least one dentist and one dental hygienist, a dental therapist certified 518
in another state, an advanced practice dental therapist certified in 519
another state, the president of the Board of Regents for Higher 520
Education, or the president's designee, a representative of the 521
Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, a representative of 522
the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental 523
Accreditation and a representative of the Joint Commission on 524
National Dental Examinations. The working group may also include 525
members of said joint standing committee. The working group shall 526
evaluate and make recommendations regarding the scope of practice 527
of a dental therapist and the educational requirements and training 528
requirements that a person shall meet to become certified as a dental 529
therapist by the Department of Public Health. On or before January 1, 530
2020, the working group shall report, in accordance with the 531
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to said joint standing 532
committee regarding its findings and recommendations. 533
Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) As used in this section: 534
(1) "Point-of-service test" means diagnostic testing performed at the 535
site where patients will receive care or treatment; and 536
(2) "HbA1c percentage" means the proportion of hemoglobin to 537 Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
18 of 19
which glucose is attached and measures the average circulating blood 538
glucose level over the previous two to three-month period. 539
(b) A dentist licensed under chapter 379 of the general statutes may, 540
during an office visit or prior to a procedure and with a patient's 541
consent, administer an in-office point-of-service test to the patient to 542
measure the patient's HbA1c percentage utilizing a finger-stick 543
measurement tool if such patient is at an increased risk of diabetes and 544
does not have a previous diagnosis of diabetes. A dentist who does not 545
administer such test pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to 546
have violated the standard of care for a dentist. The Commissioner of 547
Public Health may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions 548
of chapter 54 of the general statutes to carry out the provisions of this 549
section. 550
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 January 1, 2020 20-107
Sec. 2 January 1, 2020 20-108
Sec. 3 January 1, 2020 20-110
Sec. 4 January 1, 2020 New section
Sec. 5 January 1, 2020 20-126o(a)
Sec. 6 January 1, 2020 20-126t
Sec. 7 January 1, 2020 20-112a(c) and (d)
Sec. 8 January 1, 2020 20-126c(a) and (b)
Sec. 9 January 1, 2020 20-126l(a)
Sec. 10 January 1, 2020 20-126l(g)
Sec. 11 January 1, 2020 20-126l
Sec. 12 July 1, 2019 New section
Sec. 13 July 1, 2019 New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 4(a)(1), "to dentists, physicians and other health care
providers" was added to Subpara. (A), "in the oral cavity" was added
to Subparas. (H) and (L) and "dental" was added to Subpara. (U) for
accuracy and clarity; in Section 4(b)(2)(A), "Dental Therapy Standards"
was changed to "accreditation standards for dental therapy education
programs" for accuracy; in Section 4(b)(5), "with a dentist" was added Substitute Bill No. 7303
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07303-
R01-HB.docx }
19 of 19
for clarity; in Section 4(e)(1), ", expanded function dental assistants, as
defined in Section 20-112a of the general statutes, as amended by this
act," was added to Subpara. (I) and "or the scope of practice" was
added to Subpara. (J) for accuracy and clarity; in Section 4(h)(1),
"continuing education" was added for clarity and, "for a total of
twenty-two hours of continuing education within the preceding
twenty-four-month period" was changed to "for a total of six hours of
continuing education during a dental hygienist's first license renewal
period and for a total of twenty-two hours of continuing education
during each renewal period thereafter" for statutory consistency; in
Section 7(c)(4), "or an infection control competency assessment
administered by a dental education program in the state that is
accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on
Dental Accreditation" was added for consistency and clarity; the
effective date of Section 12 was changed to, "July 1, 2019" for
consistency with the reporting deadline of said section; and Sections 7
and 14 were combined and Section 14 was deleted to eliminate
redundancy.
PH Joint Favorable Subst.