*See Sec. 19a-88b re renewal of certain professional and occupational licenses, certificates, permits or registrations which become void while the holder is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
See Secs. 20-14c to 20-14g, inclusive, re dispensing and labeling of drugs by licensed practitioners.
Cited. 113 C. 564; 133 C. 64; 207 C. 674; 242 C. 1.
Sec. 20-103. Dental commissioners.
Sec. 20-103a. State Dental Commission.
Secs. 20-104 and 20-105. Qualifications and duties; regulations. Compensation; counsel.
Sec. 20-106a. Designation of limited practice.
Sec. 20-107. Application for license. Graduates of foreign dental schools.
Sec. 20-109. Fee for examination.
Sec. 20-110. Licenses to out-of-state applicants.
Sec. 20-112a. Dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants.
Sec. 20-113. Display of license.
Sec. 20-113a. Renewal of licenses.
Sec. 20-113b. Renewal of license by person who practices dentistry for no fee.
Sec. 20-114. Disciplinary action by Dental Commission concerning dentists and dental hygienists.
Sec. 20-118. Dentist removing from state.
Sec. 20-119. Employer to file list of dentists and hygienists with commission.
Sec. 20-120. Practice of dentistry in clinics, schools of dentistry and state institutions.
Sec. 20-121. Operation of dental offices.
Sec. 20-122a. Work authorization for unlicensed person.
Sec. 20-122b. Subwork authorization. Failure of dentist to provide written authorization.
Sec. 20-122c. Inspection of authorization files by Department of Public Health.
Sec. 20-123a. Anesthesia and sedation: Definitions.
Sec. 20-123b. Permit for use of anesthesia required. Exception. Regulations.
Sec. 20-123c. Point-of-service test for HbA1c percentage.
Sec. 20-124. False representations.
Sec. 20-124a. Dental referral services: Disclosure of acceptance of fee for referral required.
Sec. 20-126b. (Formerly Sec. 20-126v). Permit for advanced dental education.
Sec. 20-126e. Placement of identifying marks on a dental prosthesis. Responsibilities of dentist.
Secs. 20-126f and 20-126g. Reserved
Sec. 20-103. Dental commissioners. Section 20-103 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4439; P.A. 77-169, S. 1, 3; 77-614, S. 395, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 119, 136.)
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Sec. 20-103a. State Dental Commission. (a) The State Dental Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 4-9a, six of whom shall be practitioners in dentistry residing in this state who are in good standing in their profession and three of whom shall be public members. No member of said commission shall be an elected or appointed officer of a professional association of members of his profession or have been such an officer for the year immediately preceding his appointment. The Commissioner of Public Health, with advice and assistance from the Dental Commission, may issue regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter, and to insure proper dental care and the protection of public health, considering the convenience and welfare of the patient, methods recommended by the canon of ethics of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association and accepted health standards as promulgated by local health ordinances and state statutes and regulations.
(b) The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among such members. Said commission shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairman deems necessary. Special meetings shall be held on the request of a majority of the commission after notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Members shall not be compensated for their services. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from office. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded by the commission. No member shall participate in the affairs of the commission during the pendency of any disciplinary proceedings by the commission against such member. No member shall serve for more than two full consecutive terms commencing after July 1, 1980. Said commission shall (1) hear and decide matters concerning suspension or revocation of licensure, (2) adjudicate complaints filed against practitioners and (3) impose sanctions where appropriate.
(P.A. 78-303, S. 87, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 38, 174, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 27, 71; P.A. 85-398; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 21, 55; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-149, S. 16; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-143, S. 9, 24.)
History: P.A. 80-484 made appointments subject to Sec. 4-9a, deleted requirement that dentist and dental hygienist members have practiced in state for 10 and 5 years, respectively, deleted provision requiring July meeting and allowing commission to regulate announcements, signs, directory listings, etc. and added prohibition against members holding office in professional association within 1 year of their appointment in Subsec. (a) and replaced provisions of Subsec. (b) re appointments from lists of nominees submitted by professional associations and re filling vacancies with provisions re meetings, expense reimbursement, members' attendance and duties; P.A. 81-471 changed “elected official” in Subsec. (a) to “elected or appointed officer” as of July 1, 1981; P.A. 85-398 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the number of dental hygienists on the dental commission from one to two and public members from three to four; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 in Subsec. (b) eliminated expense reimbursement for board members; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-149 amended Subsec. (a) to reduce number of commission members from eleven to nine, to increase the number of dentists from five to six and to decrease the number of public members from four to three; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-143 added quorum provision in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998.
See Sec. 1-24 re persons empowered to administer oaths.
See Sec. 4-9a for definition of “public member”.
See Sec. 4-10 re appointment of boards and commission members from lists provided to Governor.
See Secs. 19a-8 to 19a-12, inclusive, re powers and duties of boards and commissions within Department of Public Health.
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Secs. 20-104 and 20-105. Qualifications and duties; regulations. Compensation; counsel. Sections 20-104 and 20-105 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4440, 4441; 1953, S. 2229d; 1957, P.A. 253, S. 1; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; 1959, P.A. 91; 616, S. 30, 31, 78; February, 1965, P.A. 160; 1967, P.A. 766; P.A. 77-169, S. 2, 3; 77-614, S. 396, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 119, 136.)
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Sec. 20-106. License. No person shall engage in the practice of dentistry or dental medicine unless such person has first obtained a license from the Department of Public Health.
(1949 Rev., S. 4446; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 32; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 149, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act required registration with state department of health; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 required that license be obtained from department rather than commissioners and deleted reference to registration with department; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Prohibition against practicing without license penal in its nature; “practicing” construed. 83 C. 300; 109 C. 74. Hospital which employed unlicensed dental assistant in violation of statute found guilty of corporate negligence; principles governing malpractice are determinative. 133 C. 64. Cited. 141 C. 288; 149 C. 262.
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Sec. 20-106a. Designation of limited practice. No licensed and registered dentist shall designate in any manner that he has limited his practice to one of the specialty areas of dentistry expressly approved by the American Dental Association unless such dentist has completed two years of advanced or postgraduate education in the area of such specialty and has notified the Dental Commission of such limitation of practice. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit any licensed and registered dentist who has limited his practice prior to May 8, 1975, from continuing to designate such limitation.
(P.A. 75-75, S. 1, 3.)
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Sec. 20-107. Application for license. Graduates of foreign dental schools. (a) Each application for a license to practice dentistry shall be submitted by the applicant and no license shall be issued to any person unless he or she presents (1) a diploma or other certificate of graduation conferring a dental degree from a dental college or from a department of dentistry of a medical college accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization; (2) evidence of satisfactory completion of a written examination or examinations given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, subject to such conditions as the State Dental Commission as described in section 20-103a, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, may prescribe; and (3) evidence of satisfactory completion of at least one year of a clinically based postdoctoral general practice or specialty dental residency program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its successor organization.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the department may issue a license to practice dentistry to any applicant holding a diploma from a foreign dental school, provided the applicant: (1) Is a graduate of a dental school located outside the United States and has received the degree of doctor of dental medicine or surgery, or its equivalent; (2) passed the written and practical examination or examinations required in subsection (a) of this section or section 20-108; (3) successfully completed not less than two years of graduate dental training as a resident dentist in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation; and (4) successfully completed, at a level greater than the second postgraduate year, not less than three years of a residency or fellowship training program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in a school of dentistry in this state, or has served as a full-time faculty member of a school of dentistry in this state pursuant to the provisions of section 20-120 for not less than three years.
(1949 Rev., S. 4447; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 22; P.A. 79-70, S. 1; P.A. 80-484, S. 39, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 05-213, S. 5; P.A. 11-242, S. 75; P.A. 19-72, S. 1.)
History: 1963 act deleted provision for application by a registered unlicensed assistant dentist; P.A. 79-70 required three years' practice in another state rather than five years' practice; P.A. 80-484 replaced three years' practice requirement with requirement that applicant be currently practicing, established health services department rather than dental commission as authority for weighing equivalency of other states' requirements, required consent of health services commissioner for approval of colleges and required that commission consult with recognized accrediting agencies in determining acceptable colleges; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-213 designated existing language re application for license to practice dentistry as Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes, designated existing language re Dental Commission's authority to designate reputable dental or medical colleges as Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (b) by deleting language re presentation of certificate from State Board of Education and making technical changes, and added Subsec. (c) allowing foreign-trained applicants who hold a doctor of dental medicine or dental surgery degree or its equivalent to obtain a dentist license under certain circumstances; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (c)(4) by requiring graduates of foreign dental schools to have successfully completed not less than 3 years, rather than 2 years, of an accredited residency or fellowship training program in a school of dentistry in this state as a condition for licensure and by deleting provision re training in a community or school-based health center, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 19-72 substantially amended Subsec. (a) including by replacing “in writing and signed” with “submitted”, designating existing provisions re diploma or certificate of graduation as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by adding “conferring a dental degree”, deleting “some reputable” re college, replacing provisions re college conferring dental degree with college accredited by Commission on Dental Accreditation, adding Subdiv. (2) re examination, and adding Subdiv. (3) re postdoctoral general practice or dental residency program, deleted former Subsec. (b) re determination of reputable colleges, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as new Subsec. (b), and made technical and conforming changes, effective January 1, 2020.
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Sec. 20-108. Examination of applicants in lieu of one year of postdoctoral general practice or residency program. The State Dental Commission may, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, accept and approve the results of clinical or practical examinations, subject to such conditions as said commission, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, may prescribe in lieu of the clinically based postdoctoral general practice or specialty dental residency program required pursuant to subsection (a) of section 20-107. On and after July 1, 2021, or upon the State Dental Commission's approval of examinations that do not require the participation of patients, whichever is earlier, such clinical or practical examinations shall not require the participation of patients. Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the commission.
(1949 Rev., S. 4448; 1957, P.A. 185; 1969, P.A. 101; P.A. 77-614, S. 397, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 40, 176; P.A. 87-114, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 6, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 05-213, S. 2; P.A. 07-252, S. 45; P.A. 19-72, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act added provision allowing acceptance of regional test results in lieu of written and practical examinations; P.A. 77-614 required consent of health services commissioner for waiver of written and practical examinations and transferred examinations to jurisdiction of health services department, retaining commission in supervisory capacity, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 added provision re establishment of passing scores; P.A. 87-114 added provision re exception to obtaining a license by examination; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-435 substituted Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations for National Board of Dental Examiners, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-213 designated existing language as Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and exempting Subsec. (b) from provisions and added Subsec. (b) authorizing graduate dental training as resident dentist in lieu of practical examination required by Subsec. (a); P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring director of dental residency program, instead of supervising dentist, to provide documentation of applicant's successful completion of graduate dental training as a resident dentist and deleting provision re documentation to be provided at the end of year of graduate dental training, effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 19-72 deleted Subsec. (b), deleted Subsec. (a) designator and substantially amended provisions including by deleting provisions re examination and adding provisions re clinical or practical examinations and participation of patients, effective January 1, 2020.
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Sec. 20-109. Fee for examination. Upon the payment of a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars by an applicant, the Department of Public Health, under the supervision of the dental commissioners shall examine applicants. All examinations shall be given at least once per year and at other times prescribed by the department. The department shall grant licenses to such applicants as are qualified.
(1949 Rev., S. 4454; 1957, P.A. 181; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 33; 1963, P.A. 257; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 53; P.A. 77-614, S. 398, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 150, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 28, 71; P.A. 89-251, S. 87, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 200.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from $35 to $50, deleted provisions for reexamination, updated statute, eliminating provisions for duties of recorder re fees and required payments of moneys collected by dental commissioners to general fund; 1963 act added requirement for $100 fee for nonresidents and provided that meetings be held in June and November; 1971 act removed fee differential for residents and nonresidents, raising fee for all applicants to $150; P.A. 77-614 made department of health services, rather than dental commissioners, responsible for examinations, retaining commissioners in supervisory role and retaining their power to grant licenses, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 transferred licensing power to health services department and deleted provision re payment of moneys collected to general fund; P.A. 81-471 deleted requirement that examinations be held in June and November and substituted requirement that exams be held at least once per year and at other times prescribed by the department; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from $150 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $450 to $565.
See Sec. 4-32 re state revenue accounting system.
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Sec. 20-110. Licenses to out-of-state applicants. The Department of Public Health may, upon receipt of an application and a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars, issue a license without examination to a practicing dentist in another state or territory who (1) holds a current valid license in good professional standing issued after examination by another state or territory that maintains licensing standards which, except for the practical examination, are commensurate with the state's standards, and (2) has worked continuously as a licensed dentist in an academic or clinical setting in another state or territory for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the application for licensure without examination. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the Dental Commission annually of the number of applications it receives for licensure under this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4449; 1951, S. 2231d; 1957, P.A. 227; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 34; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 54; P.A. 79-70, S. 2; P.A. 80-484, S. 41, 176; P.A. 87-114, S. 2; P.A. 89-251, S. 88, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 201; P.A. 18-168, S. 18; P.A. 19-72, S. 3.)
History: 1959 act raised fee from $75 to $100; 1971 act raised fee to $150; P.A. 79-70 required applicant to have practiced for three, rather than five, years in another state; P.A. 80-484 transferred licensing power from dental commission to department of health services, revised qualifications to replace three-year practice requirement with requirement that applicant be currently practicing, to delete requirements that applicant be “of good moral character” and that he pass a practical examination, and to add provisions prohibiting issuance of license to applicant involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and requiring annual notification of commission of number of applicants; P.A. 87-114 substituted “licensed” for “in lawful practice”, deleted the condition requiring a dentist to remove to this state, and deleted the provision requiring the state or territory issuing the certificate to offer reciprocity to dentists registered and licensed in this state and removing to such other state; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from $150 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $450 to $565; P.A. 18-168 replaced provisions re department's issuance of license to dentist licensed in another state or territory with provisions re same; P.A. 19-72 amended Subdiv. (2) by replacing “five years” with “one year” re continuous work as a licensed dentist, effective January 1, 2020.
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Secs. 20-111 to 20-111c and 20-112. Dental hygienists; definitions; scope of practice; continuing education. Application for license; requirements; fee. Examination of applicants. Licensure without examination; fee. Unlicensed registered assistants. Sections 20-111 to 20-111c, inclusive, and 20-112 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4455, 4456; 1957, P.A. 236; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 35, 36; 1963, P.A. 220; 642, S. 23; 1967, P.A. 240; 1969, P.A. 248; 1971, P.A. 15; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 55; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 5; June, 1972, P.A. 1, S. 10; P.A. 73-399, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 399, 610; P.A. 79-86; P.A. 80-484, S. 151, 174, 176; P.A. 85-178; P.A. 86-148; P.A. 87-139, S. 1; P.A. 89-251, S. 89, 203; P.A. 92-35, S. 1–4; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 7, 8, 95; P.A. 94-149, S. 25.)
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Sec. 20-112a. Dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Direct supervision” means a licensed dentist has authorized certain procedures to be performed on a patient by a dental assistant or an expanded function dental assistant with such dentist remaining on-site in the dental office or treatment facility while such procedures are being performed by the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant and that, prior to the patient's departure from the dental office, such dentist reviews and approves the treatment performed by the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant;
(2) “Indirect supervision” means a licensed dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility, has personally diagnosed the condition, planned the treatment, authorized the procedures to be performed and remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedures are being performed by the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant and evaluates the performance of the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant;
(3) “Dental assistant” means a person who: (A) Has (i) completed on-the-job training in dental assisting under direct supervision, (ii) successfully completed a dental assistant education program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, or (iii) successfully completed a dental assistant education program that is accredited or recognized by any national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; and (B) meets any requirements established by the Commissioner of Public Health in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (f) of this section;
(4) “Expanded function dental assistant” means a dental assistant who has passed the Dental Assisting National Board's certified dental assistant or certified orthodontic assistant examination and then successfully completed: (A) An expanded function dental assistant program at an institution of higher education that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association that includes (i) educational courses relating to didactic and laboratory preclinical objectives for skills used by an expanded function dental assistant and that requires demonstration of such skills prior to advancing to clinical practice, (ii) not less than four hours of education in the area of ethics and professional standards for dental professionals, and (iii) a comprehensive clinical examination administered by the institution of higher education at the conclusion of such program; and (B) a comprehensive written examination concerning certified preventive functions and certified restorative functions administered by the Dental Assisting National Board; and
(5) “Fluoride varnish treatment” means the application of a highly concentrated form of fluoride to the surface of the teeth.
(b) Each expanded function dental assistant shall: (1) Maintain dental assistant or orthodontic assistant certification from the Dental Assisting National Board; (2) conspicuously display his or her dental assistant or orthodontic assistant certificate at his or her place of employment or place where he or she provides expanded function dental assistant services; (3) maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars for one person, per occurrence, with an aggregate liability of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars while employed as an expanded function dental assistant; (4) provide expanded function dental assistant services only under direct or indirect supervision; and (5) meet any requirements established by the Commissioner of Public Health in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.
(c) (1) A licensed dentist may delegate to dental assistants such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including: (A) The taking of dental x-rays if the dental assistant can demonstrate successful completion of the dental radiation health and safety examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board; (B) the taking of impressions of teeth for study models; and (C) the provision of fluoride varnish treatments. Such procedures shall be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and the dentist providing direct supervision shall assume responsibility for such procedures.
(2) A licensed dentist may delegate to an expanded function dental assistant such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including: (A) The placing, finishing and adjustment of temporary restorations and long-term individual fillings, capping materials and cement bases; (B) oral health education for patients; (C) dental sealants; (D) coronal polishing, provided the procedure is not represented or billed as prophylaxis; (E) administration of topical anesthetic under the direct supervision of the dentist prior to the administration of local anesthetic by a dentist or dental hygienist; and (F) taking alginate impressions of teeth, under the direct supervision of the dentist, for use in study models, orthodontic appliances, whitening trays, mouth guards or fabrication of temporary crowns. Such procedures shall be performed under either direct or indirect supervision, except as specifically provided in this subdivision, and the dentist providing such supervision shall assume responsibility for such procedures.
(3) (A) No licensed dentist may delegate dental procedures to a dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant unless the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant provides records demonstrating successful completion of the Dental Assisting National Board's infection control examination 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, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, (B) a dental assistant may receive not more than fifteen months of on-the-job training by a licensed dentist for purposes of preparing the dental assistant for the infection control examination or infection control competency assessment, and (C) any licensed dentist who delegates dental procedures to a dental assistant shall retain and make such records available for inspection upon request of the Department of Public Health.
(4) On and after January 1, 2018, upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting National Board's infection control examination 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, each dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant shall complete not less than one hour of training or education in infection control in a dental setting every two years, including, but not limited to, courses, including online courses, offered or approved by a dental school or another institution of higher education that is accredited or recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a regional accrediting organization, the American Dental Association or a state, district or local dental association or society affiliated with the American Dental Association or the American Dental Assistants Association.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, under no circumstances may a dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant engage in: (1) Diagnosis for dental procedures or dental treatment; (2) the cutting or removal of any hard or soft tissue or suturing; (3) the prescribing of drugs or medications that require the written or oral order of a licensed dentist or physician; (4) the administration of local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents in connection with any dental operative procedure; (5) the taking of any final impression of the teeth or jaws or the relationship of the teeth or jaws for the purpose of fabricating any appliance or prosthesis; or (6) the practice of dental hygiene as defined in section 20-126l.
(e) Each licensed dentist employing or otherwise engaging the services of an expanded function dental assistant shall: (1) Prior to hiring or otherwise engaging the services of the expanded function dental assistant, verify that the expanded function dental assistant meets the requirements described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) and subdivisions (1) and (3) of subsection (b) of this section; (2) maintain documentation verifying that the expanded function dental assistant meets such requirements on the premises where the expanded function dental assistant provides services; (3) make such documentation available to the Department of Public Health upon request; and (4) provide direct or indirect supervision to not more than two expanded function dental assistants who are providing services at one time or, if the dentist's practice is limited to orthodontics, provide direct or indirect supervision to not more than four expanded function dental assistants who are providing services at one time.
(f) The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the State Dental Commission, established pursuant to section 20-103a, may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations, if adopted, shall include, but need not be limited to, identification of the: (1) Specific types of procedures that may be performed by a dental assistant and an expanded function dental assistant, consistent with the provisions of this section; (2) appropriate number of didactic, preclinical and clinical hours or number of procedures to be evaluated for clinical competency for each skill employed by an expanded function dental assistant; and (3) the level of supervision, that may include direct or indirect supervision, that is required for each procedure to be performed by an expanded function dental assistant.
(P.A. 73-399, S. 1; P.A. 92-35, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 19, 121; P.A. 05-213, S. 6; P.A. 16-66, S. 38; P.A. 17-44, S. 1; 17-146, S. 43; P.A. 18-168, S. 83, 84; P.A. 19-56, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 92-35 substituted “dental” for “trained” assistants, amended Subdiv. (1) to remove reference to treatment planning or any procedures requiring professional's judgment and skill and to include dental procedures or dental treatment, amended Subdiv. (4) to remove reference to injected local anesthetic of any nature and replace it with local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents in connection with any dental operative procedure and amended Subdiv. (7) by replacing removal of calcareous deposits, accretions and stains from the surfaces of teeth or the polishing of teeth with the practice of dental hygiene as defined in Sec. 20-111; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 05-213 authorized dental assistants who pass dental radiography portion of exam prescribed by Dental Assisting National Board to take dental x-rays under supervision and control of dentist and made technical changes; P.A. 16-66 added Subsec. (a) defining “direct supervision”, “indirect supervision”, “dental assistant” and “expanded function dental assistant”, added Subsec. (b) re requirements for expanded function dental assistants, designated existing provisions re delegation to dental assistants as Subsec. (c)(1) and amended same to make technical changes, add provisions re taking impressions of teeth for study models as Subpara. (B) and add provisions re procedures to be performed under dentist's direct supervision, added Subsec. (c)(2) re delegation to expanded function dental assistant, (3) re prohibitions on delegation to dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant and (4) re training or education in infection control, designated existing provisions re prohibited practices as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add reference to expanded function dental assistants, replace “impression” with “final impression” in Subdiv. (5), delete former Subdiv. (6) re restorations, capping materials and cement bases and redesignate existing Subdiv. (7) re practice of dental hygiene as Subdiv. (6), added Subsec. (e) re dentist employing or engaging services of expanded function dental assistant and added Subsec. (f) re adoption of regulations; P.A. 17-44 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to replace “the New England Association of Schools and Colleges” with “any national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education”, effective June 13, 2017; P.A. 17-146 amended Subsec. (c)(3) by replacing “January” with “July”, effective June 30, 2017; P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (5) defining “fluoride varnish treatment” and making a technical change, and amended Subsec. (c)(1) by adding Subpara. (C) re provision of fluoride varnish treatments and making technical changes; P.A. 19-56 amended Subsec. (c) by adding “of a licensed dentist” re direct supervision in Subdiv. (1), adding Subpara. (E) re administration of topical anesthetic, adding Subpara. (F) re taking alginate impressions of teeth, and adding “except as specifically provided in this subdivision” in Subdiv. (2), deleting reference to July 1, 2018, adding provision re infection control competency assessment in Subdiv. (3)(A), replacing “nine months” with “fifteen months”, deleting reference to Dental Assisting National Board and adding “or infection control competency assessment” in Subdiv. (3)(B), and adding provision re infection control competency assessment in Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (d) by adding reference to exception in Subsec. (c), and further amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) by making technical changes, effective July 1, 2019.
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Sec. 20-113. Display of license. The license for the current year shall be displayed conspicuously in the office, place of business or place of employment of each licensee. Each licensed dentist shall forthwith notify the department of any change of address or employment subsequent to his licensure. Any association of dentists which has registered with the Secretary of the State as required under section 34-82 shall also register annually as an association with the secretary of the Dental Commission.
(1949 Rev., S. 4442; 1955, S. 2230d; 1959, P.A. 94; 616, S. 37; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 24; 1969, P.A. 111; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 56; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 152, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 29, 71; P.A. 94-149, S. 17.)
History: 1959 acts deleted obsolete provisions re recorder, added requirement for registering according to Sec. 19-45, provided that payment for restoring license be made to the commission rather than the commissioners, deleted provisions re nonresident Connecticut licensed dentists, unlicensed assistant dentists and licensed dental hygienists who fail to register, allowed commission to require that licensed dentist pass practical examination if he fails to register for two successive years and required that commission secretary be notified when dentist or hygienist changes address or employment; 1963 act deleted obsolete provisions re registration of unlicensed assistant dentists; 1969 act required that association of dentists register with secretary of dental commission as well as with secretary of state; 1971 act raised fee for restoration of license from $25 to $50; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 replaced certificates of registration with licenses, deleted provisions re failure of dentist or hygienist to register, suspension and restoration of licenses for failure to register, etc. and required notification of department rather than of secretary of dental commission when address or employment changed; P.A. 81-471 changed “registration” to “licensure”; P.A. 94-149 deleted reference to dental hygienist.
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Sec. 20-113a. Renewal of licenses. Licenses issued under this chapter shall be renewed annually in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88.
(P.A. 80-484, S. 42, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 30, 71.)
History: P.A. 81-471 deleted reference to certificates.
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Sec. 20-113b. Renewal of license by person who practices dentistry for no fee. Any person who practices dentistry for no fee, for at least one hundred hours per year at a public health facility, as defined in section 20-126l, and does not otherwise engage in the practice of dentistry, shall be eligible to renew a license, as provided in subsection (a) of section 19a-88, without payment of the professional services fee specified in said subsection (a).
(P.A. 03-124, S. 1; P.A. 05-213, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 05-213 eliminated $100-dollar license renewal fee and provided exemption re professional services fee specified in Sec. 19a-88(a) for dentist who provides at least 100 hours per year of free care at public health facility.
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Sec. 20-114. Disciplinary action by Dental Commission concerning dentists and dental hygienists. (a) The Dental Commission may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following causes: (1) The presentation to the department of any diploma, license or certificate illegally or fraudulently obtained, or obtained from an institution that is not reputable or from an unrecognized or irregular institution or state board, or obtained by the practice of any fraud or deception; (2) proof that a practitioner has become unfit or incompetent or has been guilty of cruelty, incompetence, negligence or indecent conduct toward patients; (3) conviction of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by any court of criminal jurisdiction, provided no action shall be taken under section 19a-17 because of such conviction if any appeal to a higher court has been filed until the appeal has been determined by the higher court and the conviction sustained; (4) the employment of any unlicensed person for other than mechanical purposes in the practice of dental medicine or dental surgery subject to the provisions of section 20-122a; (5) the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations adopted hereunder or the refusal to comply with any of said provisions or regulations; (6) the aiding or abetting in the practice of dentistry, dental medicine or dental hygiene of a person not licensed to practice dentistry, dental medicine or dental hygiene in this state; (7) designating a limited practice, except as provided in section 20-106a; (8) engaging in fraud or material deception in the course of professional activities; (9) the effects of physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of motor skill, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, upon the license holder; (10) abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; (11) failure to comply with the continuing education requirements set forth in section 20-126c; (12) failure of a holder of a permit authorizing the use of moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia to successfully complete an on-site evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of section 20-123b; (13) failure to provide information to the Department of Public Health required to complete a health care provider profile, as set forth in section 20-13j; (14) failure to maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice as provided in section 20-126d; or (15) failure to adhere to the most recent version of the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for infection control in dental care settings. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by any unlicensed employee in the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene, with the knowledge of the employer, shall be deemed a violation by the employer. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his or her physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of this section, fraud or material deception shall include, but not be limited to, the following practices: (1) Submission of a claim form to a third party intentionally reporting incorrect treatment dates for the purpose of assisting a patient in obtaining benefits under a dental plan, which benefits would otherwise be disallowed; (2) increasing a fee to a patient for a dental procedure or dental hygiene service in excess of the fee generally charged by the dentist for such procedure or service solely because the patient has dental insurance; (3) intentionally describing a dental procedure incorrectly on a third-party claim form in order to receive a greater payment or reimbursement or intentionally misrepresenting a dental procedure not otherwise eligible for payment or reimbursement on such claim form for the purpose of receiving payment or reimbursement; and (4) intentionally accepting payment from a third party as payment in full for patient services rendered when (A) the patient has been excused from payment of any applicable deductible by the license holder, and (B) such license holder fails to notify the third party of such action.
(1949 Rev., S. 4450; 1951, 1953, S. 2232d; 1957, P.A. 544; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 38; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 25; 1967, P.A. 219; 289; P.A. 75-75, S. 2, 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 400, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 43, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 31, 71; P.A. 83-205; P.A. 84-68; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-23, S. 2; 92-35, S. 6; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 05-213, S. 9; 05-288, S. 82; P.A. 08-109, S. 7; P.A. 10-117, S. 11; P.A. 15-163, S. 3; P.A. 16-66, S. 12.)
History: 1959 act updated statute to specify that department of health may be requested to cancel certificate of registration; 1963 act deleted obsolete references to unlicensed assistant dentists and Sec. 20-112; 1967 acts added provision re violation of regulations of the dental commission to Subdiv. (6) and deleted “for patronage” from description of advertising in Subdiv. (12); P.A. 75-75 added Subdiv. (16) allowing suspension or revocation of license, etc. on ground of designating a limited practice; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services and referred in Subdiv. (6) to regulations adopted under chapter rather than to regulations “of the dental commission”, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 extended applicability to disciplinary actions under Sec. 19-4s, substituted “department” for “commission” in Subdiv. (1), substituted “incompetence” for “unskillfulness” and deleted “gross” referring to negligence in Subdiv. (2), deleted grounds re conviction of crime involving moral turpitude, re misleading advertising, fee advertising, etc., and re unprofessional conduct, added grounds re fraud or material deception, re physical or mental illness, emotional disorder, etc. and re drug abuse, and added provisions requiring submission to physical or mental examination and allowing petitions to court for enforcement of orders or actions; P.A. 81-471 replaced reference to Sec. 20-111 in Subdiv. (4) with reference to Sec. 20-122a; P.A. 83-205 added Subsec. (b) to include fraudulent billing practices in the definition of fraud or material deception; P.A. 84-68 added Subsec. (b)(4) re fraudulent receipt of partial payment as payment in full by a licensed dentist; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 92-23 added Subsec. (a)(11) re failure to complete on-site evaluation re anesthesia and sedation; P.A. 92-35 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to include dental hygienists in the provisions of the section; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-213 added Subsec. (a)(11) making failure to comply with continuing education requirements grounds for disciplining dentists, redesignating existing Subdiv. (11) as Subdiv. (12) and making technical changes; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 08-109 made a technical change and added failure to provide information for health care provider profile to list of grounds for disciplinary action in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (14) re failure to maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice; P.A. 15-163 amended Subsec. (a)(12) by replacing “dental anesthesia or conscious sedation permit” with “permit authorizing the use of moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia”; P.A. 16-66 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (15) re failure to adhere to National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for infection control in dental care settings.
Dental assistant found guilty of single operation held to have forfeited license. 109 C. 73. Method used by detective to obtain evidence not repugnant to sound policy. Id., 76. Cited. 128 C. 118; 141 C. 288; 142 C. 44. Where plaintiff dentist aided and abetted dental hygienist in practice of dentistry or dental medicine, statute was violated. 149 C. 264.
Section is not void for vagueness. 4 CA 307. Subsec. (a)(2): Use of the terms “incompetence” and “negligence” in Subdiv. is equivalent to an allegation that a practitioner fell below the standard of care and, therefore, the department's failure to use the terms “incompetence” or “negligence” in its charges against the plaintiff does not preclude the commission's authority to impose sanctions. 212 CA 501.
Dental Commission shall find the facts and the court find the law. 8 CS 455. Cited. Id. 459.
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Secs. 20-115 to 20-117. Complaints against dentists or dental hygienists. Grievance committee. Restoration of licenses. Sections 20-115 to 20-117, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4451, 4452; 1953, S. 2234d; 1957, P.A. 182, S. 1; 192, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 39, 40; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 26; 1967, P.A. 239; P.A. 77-614, S. 401, 402, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
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Sec. 20-118. Dentist removing from state. Any licensed dentist changing his residence or place of business to another state shall, upon application to the dental commissioners, receive a certificate which shall state that he is a licensed dentist in this state; and such certificate shall be given without payment of any fee.
(1949 Rev., S. 4457; P.A. 94-149, S. 18.)
History: P.A. 94-149 deleted references to dental hygienists.
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Sec. 20-119. Employer to file list of dentists and hygienists with commission. Section 20-119 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4443; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 41; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 27; P.A. 92-35, S. 10.)
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Sec. 20-120. Practice of dentistry in clinics, schools of dentistry and state institutions. (a) Any graduate of a recognized dental college may practice dentistry in a clinic for a period not exceeding six months, provided he shall obtain the written consent and approval of the Dental Commission.
(b) A full-time faculty member of a school of dentistry in this state who is licensed in another state or who has exceptional qualifications as approved by the Dental Commission may be granted a provisional license upon consent and approval of the Dental Commission which provisional license shall be in effect during such time as the licensee is in the full-time employment of a school of dentistry within the state. Such provisional license shall limit the licensee to the practice of dentistry in the school of dentistry of which he is a member of the faculty or in any hospital affiliated with such school.
(c) Any graduate of a foreign dental school, who has exceptional qualifications, as approved by the Dental Commission, may practice dentistry in any state institution.
(1949 Rev., S. 4461; 1969, P.A. 316, S. 1; P.A. 73-105.)
History: 1969 act added provisions re provisional licenses; P.A. 73-105 divided section into Subsecs., allowed granting provisional license to faculty member “who has exceptional qualifications as approved by the dental commission” and added Subsec. (c) allowing graduates of foreign dental schools to practice in state institutions.
Cited. 133 C. 63.
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Sec. 20-121. Operation of dental offices. Section 20-121 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4459; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 42; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 28; P.A. 74-92; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
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Sec. 20-122. Ownership and operation of offices by unlicensed persons or by corporations. Penalty. Exception. (a) No person, except a licensed and registered dentist, and no corporation, except a professional service corporation organized and existing under chapter 594a for the purpose of rendering professional dental services, and no institution shall own or operate a dental office, or an office, laboratory or operation or consultation room in which dental medicine, dental surgery or dental hygiene is carried on as a portion of its regular business; but the provisions of this section do not apply to hospitals, community health centers, public or parochial schools, or convalescent homes, or institutions under control of an agency of the state of Connecticut, or the state or municipal board of health, or a municipal board of education; or those educational institutions treating their students, or to industrial institutions or corporations rendering treatment to their employees on a nonprofit basis, provided permission for such treatment has been granted by the State Dental Commission. Such permission may be revoked for cause after hearing by said commission.
(b) Any licensed practitioner who provides dental services in a dental office or other location in violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action under sections 19a-17 and 20-114.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section or chapter 594a, a professional service corporation whose capital stock is held by or under the control of a personal representative or the estate of a deceased or incompetent dentist may operate a dental office or other location for the purpose of rendering professional dental services for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed eighteen months from the date of the dentist's death or the date the dentist is lawfully determined to be incompetent, whichever is applicable.
(1949 Rev., S. 4444, 4445; P.A. 73-206, S. 1; P.A. 87-139, S. 2; P.A. 92-35, S. 7; P.A. 05-272, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 73-206 added exception re professional service corporations in prohibition concerning ownership of dentistry concern, deleted exception for Hartford dispensary and exempted convalescent homes where dentist provided care directly for patient rather than for home; P.A. 87-139 deleted requirement that dentist provide care directly for patient rather than home for exemption of convalescent home from the requirements of this section; P.A. 92-35 added community health centers to list of exclusions from the section; P.A. 05-272 designated existing language as Subsec. (a), made technical changes in Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) to subject practitioners who violate provisions of Subsec. (a) to disciplinary action and added Subsec. (c) to allow certain professional service corporations whose capital stock is held by or under the control of a personal representative or the estate of a deceased or incompetent dentist to operate a dental office or other location for the purpose or rendering professional dental services for a reasonable and limited period of time, effective July 13, 2005.
Where plaintiff is charged with violating section by practicing dentistry in office operating under trade name, court could not read into section anything from which violation under charge preferred could be found. 149 C. 265. Cited. 150 C. 300.
Based on the plain language of statute, language of Sec. 33-182g and the statutory scheme governing Probate Court, section cannot be interpreted to impose a reasonable time limit within which administrator of an estate must cease owning and operating a dental practice. 84 CA 639.
Cited. 21 CS 332.
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Sec. 20-122a. Work authorization for unlicensed person. No dentist shall use the services of any person not licensed to practice dentistry in this state, or the services of any partnership, corporation or association, to construct, alter, repair or duplicate any denture, plate, bridge, splint or orthodontic or prosthetic appliance, without first furnishing such unlicensed person, partnership, corporation or association with a written work authorization on forms prescribed by the Dental Commission, and no unlicensed person, partnership, association or corporation shall perform any of such services for a dentist without first obtaining such written work authorization. Such authorization, which shall be retained by the unlicensed person, partnership, corporation or association to whom it is issued, and a copy thereof, which shall be retained by the issuing dentist, shall be subject to inspection by the Department of Public Health or its authorized agents for a period of one year from its issuance.
(1963, P.A. 450, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 403, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 transferred inspection power from dental commission to department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
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Sec. 20-122b. Subwork authorization. Failure of dentist to provide written authorization. (a) If upon receiving such written authorization an unlicensed person, partnership, corporation or association, hereinafter referred to as “contractor”, engages another person, partnership, corporation or association, hereinafter referred to as “subcontractor”, to perform some of the services relative to such work authorization, such contractor shall furnish to such subcontractor a written subwork authorization with respect thereto on forms prescribed by the Dental Commission. Such subwork authorization, which shall be retained by the subcontractor, and a duplicate thereof, which shall be attached to the work authorization and retained by the contractor, shall be subject to inspection by the Department of Public Health or its authorized agents for a period of one year from its issuance.
(b) When any unlicensed person, partnership, association or corporation performs for a dentist any service listed in section 20-122a and demands that such dentist furnish him with a written work authorization which such dentist fails or refuses to furnish, such unlicensed person, partnership, association or corporation shall be deemed to have complied with the provisions of this section and said section 20-122a.
(1963, P.A. 450, S. 3, 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 404, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 transferred dental commission's inspection power to department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
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Sec. 20-122c. Inspection of authorization files by Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health or its authorized agent may inspect the written authorization files of any licensed dentist or unlicensed person, partnership, organization or association to determine its compliance with section 20-122a. Any licensed dentist or unlicensed person, partnership, organization or association which violates any provision of said section 20-122a, or refuses to allow the Department of Public Health or its authorized agents to inspect the work authorization or prosthetic dentures, bridges, orthodontic or other appliances or structures to be used as substitutes for or as a part of natural teeth or jaws or associated structures for the correction of malocclusions or deformities in its possession shall be subject to such penalties as are provided in section 20-126.
(February, 1965, P.A. 115; P.A. 77-614, S. 405, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 transferred dental commission's inspection power to department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
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Sec. 20-123. Scope of practice of dentistry. Activities restricted to licensed dentists. Extended scope of practice for graduates of post-doctoral dental training programs. Penalties. Exceptions. (a) No person shall engage in the practice of dentistry unless he or she is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The practice of dentistry or dental medicine is defined as the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention or treatment by surgical or other means, of an injury, deformity, disease or condition of the oral cavity or its contents, or the jaws or the associated structures of the jaws. The practice of dentistry does not include: (1) The treatment of dermatologic diseases or disorders of the skin or face; (2) the performance of microvascular free tissue transfer; (3) the treatment of diseases or disorders of the eye; (4) ocular procedures; (5) the performance of cosmetic surgery or other cosmetic procedures other than those related to the oral cavity, its contents, or the jaws; or (6) nasal or sinus surgery, other than that related to the oral cavity, its contents or the jaws.
(b) No person other than a person licensed to practice dentistry under this chapter shall:
(1) Describe himself or herself by the word “Dentist” or letters “D.D.S.” or “D.M.D.”, or in other words, letters or title in connection with his or her name which in any way represents such person as engaged in the practice of dentistry;
(2) Own or carry on a dental practice or business;
(3) Replace lost teeth by artificial ones, or attempt to diagnose or correct malpositioned teeth;
(4) Directly or indirectly, by any means or method, furnish, supply, construct, reproduce or repair any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance or any other structure to be worn in a person's mouth, except upon the written direction of a licensed dentist, or place such appliance or structure in a person's mouth or attempt to adjust such appliance or structure in a person's mouth, or deliver such appliance or structure to any person other than the dentist upon whose direction the work was performed;
(5) Sell or distribute materials, except to a licensed dentist, dental laboratory or dental supply house, with instructions for an individual to construct, repair, reproduce or duplicate any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance or any other structure to be worn in a person's mouth;
(6) Advertise to the public, by any method, to furnish, supply, construct, reproduce or repair any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance or other structure to be worn in a person's mouth;
(7) Give estimates of the cost of dental treatment; or
(8) Advertise or permit it to be advertised by sign, card, circular, handbill or newspaper, or otherwise indicate that such person, by contract with others or by himself or herself, will perform any of the functions specified in subdivisions (1) to (7), inclusive, of this subsection.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a person who is licensed to practice dentistry under this chapter, who has successfully completed a postdoctoral training program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization, in the specialty area of dentistry in which such person practices may: (1) Diagnose, evaluate, prevent or treat by surgical or other means, injuries, deformities, diseases or conditions of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial area, or its adjacent or associated structures; and (2) perform any of the following procedures, provided the dentist has been granted hospital privileges to perform such procedures: (A) Surgical treatment of sleep apnea involving the jaws; (B) salivary gland surgery; (C) the harvesting of donor tissue; (D) frontal and orbital surgery and nasoethmoidal procedures to the extent that such surgery or procedures are associated with trauma.
(d) Any person who, in practicing dentistry or dental medicine, as defined in this section, employs or permits any other person except a licensed dentist to so practice dentistry or dental medicine shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 20-126.
(e) The provisions of this section do not apply to:
(1) Any practicing physician or surgeon who is licensed in accordance with chapter 370;
(2) Any regularly enrolled student in a dental school approved as provided in this chapter or a medical school approved as provided in chapter 370 receiving practical training in dentistry under the supervision of a licensed dentist or physician in a dental or medical school in this state or in any hospital, infirmary, clinic or dispensary affiliated with such school;
(3) A person who holds the degree of doctor of dental medicine or doctor of dental surgery or its equivalent and who has been issued a permit in accordance with section 20-126b and who is receiving practical training under the supervision of a licensed dentist or physician in an advanced dental education program conducted by a dental or medical school in this state or by a hospital operated by the federal government or licensed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 19a-491;
(4) Any regularly enrolled student in or graduate of an accredited school of dental hygiene who is receiving practical training in dental hygiene in an approved school of dental hygiene in the state or in any hospital, infirmary, clinic or dispensary affiliated with such school, under the supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter or a dental hygienist licensed pursuant to chapter 379a; or
(5) Controlled investigations or innovative training programs related to the delivery of dental health services within accredited dental schools or schools of dental hygiene, provided such programs are (A) under the supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter or physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370, and (B) conducted within a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or such other national professional accrediting body as may be recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(1949 Rev., S. 4458; 1949, 1953, S. 2233d; 1963, P.A. 450, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 238; 1969, P.A. 102; 1971, P.A. 244; P.A. 73-183; P.A. 92-35, S. 8; P.A. 94-149, S. 22; P.A. 05-213, S. 3.)
History: 1963 act required direction of licensed dentist in first sentence to be written; 1967 act deleted descriptive references to “the human teeth or jaws” and substituted “the mouth and surrounding and associated structures”; 1969 act required that section not be construed to prevent students or graduates from receiving training under supervision of licensed dentist or hygienist; 1971 act included as practicing dentistry one who “sells or distributes materials, except to a licensed dentist ... with instructions ... to construct, repair, reproduce or duplicate any prosthetic denture, bridge ...”; P.A. 73-183 required that section not be construed “to prevent controlled investigations or innovative training programs ... provided such programs are under the supervision of a licensed dentist or physician”; P.A. 92-35 added provision requiring inclusion in a program accredited by the commission on dental accreditation or other body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; P.A. 94-149 added provision re dentists issued a permit under Sec. 20-126v; P.A. 05-213 replaced former provisions with new Subsec. (a) re dentists' scope of practice, new Subsec. (b) specifying certain activities that may only be performed by persons licensed to practice dentistry; new Subsec. (c) authorizing graduates of post-doctoral dental training programs to engage in certain practices beyond the scope of dentistry defined in Subsec. (a), new Subsec. (d) authorizing penalties for persons who employ or permit unlicensed persons to practice dentistry or dental medicine, and new Subsec. (e) exempting certain persons, investigations and training programs from provisions of section.
See Secs. 20-14c to 20-14g, inclusive, re dispensing and labeling of drugs by licensed practitioners.
Dental assistant guilty of violation when he sprayed and drilled tooth. 109 C. 73. Such part as deals with making and repairing prosthetic dentures is not unreasonable or arbitrary exercise of police power; such part as deals with advertising is unconstitutional. 141 C. 288. Cited. 148 C. 94; 149 C. 262. Statute must be strictly construed since it is in derogation of a common law right and is penal in nature; selling and supplying of “Spare Denture Kit” does not constitute the practice of dentistry in violation of section (prior to 1971 amendment). 159 C. 362.
Cited. 21 CS 332.
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Sec. 20-123a. Anesthesia and sedation: Definitions. For purposes of this section and section 20-123b:
(1) “Deep sedation” means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which (A) a person cannot be easily aroused but responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation, (B) a person's ability to independently maintain ventilator function may be impaired, (C) assistance may be required for a person to maintain his or her airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate, and (D) cardiovascular function is usually maintained;
(2) “General anesthesia” means a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which (A) a person is not able to be aroused, even by painful stimulation, (B) a person's ability to independently maintain ventilator function is often impaired, (C) a person often requires assistance in maintaining his or her airway and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function, and (D) a person's cardiovascular function may be impaired;
(3) “Minimal sedation” means a minimally depressed level of consciousness that (A) is produced by a pharmacological method that retains a person's ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and to respond appropriately to physical stimulation or a verbal command, (B) may result in modest impairment of cognitive function and coordination but does not affect a person's ventilator and cardiovascular function, and (C) is produced by nitrous oxide or an orally administered sedative using not more than the maximum therapeutic dose recommended by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that may be prescribed for unmonitored use by a person in his or her home;
(4) “Moderate sedation” means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which (A) a person responds purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or when accompanied by light tactile stimulation, (B) intervention is not required to maintain a person's airway and spontaneous ventilation is adequate, and (C) a person's cardiovascular function is usually maintained; and
(5) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health.
(P.A. 85-251, S. 1; P.A. 87-589, S. 53, 87; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 07-252, S. 58; P.A. 15-163, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 87-589 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “or any orally administered sedation”; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and redefine “conscious sedation” as excluding administration of a single oral sedative or analgesic medication in dose appropriate for unsupervised treatment of certain conditions, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 15-163 deleted former Subsec. (a) re definition of “conscious sedation”, added Subdiv. (1) re definition of “deep sedation”, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subdiv. (2) and amended same by redefining “general anesthesia”, added Subdivs. (3) and (4) re definitions of “minimal sedation” and “moderate sedation”, and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subdiv. (5).
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Sec. 20-123b. Permit for use of anesthesia required. Exception. Regulations. (a) On and after the effective date of the regulations adopted in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, no dentist licensed under this chapter shall use moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia, as these terms are defined in section 20-123a, on any patient unless such dentist has a permit, currently in effect, issued by the commissioner, initially for a period of twelve months and renewable annually thereafter, authorizing the use of such moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia. A dentist may use minimal sedation, as defined in section 20-123a, without obtaining a permit issued by the commissioner.
(b) No applicant shall be issued a permit initially as required in subsection (a) of this section unless (1) the commissioner approves the results of an on-site evaluation of the applicant's facility conducted in consultation with the Connecticut Society of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons by an individual or individuals selected from a list of site evaluators approved by the commissioner, provided such evaluation is conducted without cost to the state, (2) the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is in compliance with guidelines in the American Dental Association Guidelines for Teaching and the Comprehensive Control of Pain and Anxiety in Dentistry, and (3) such initial application includes payment of a fee in the amount of two hundred dollars.
(c) The commissioner may renew such permit annually, provided (1) application for renewal is received by the commissioner not later than three months after the date of expiration of such permit, (2) payment of a renewal fee of two hundred dollars is received with such application, and (3) an on-site evaluation of the dentist's facility is conducted in consultation with The Connecticut Society of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons by an individual or individuals selected from a list of site evaluators approved by the commissioner, provided such evaluation is conducted without cost to the state on a schedule established in regulations adopted pursuant to this section and the commissioner approves the results of each such evaluation.
(d) The commissioner, with the advice and assistance of the State Dental Commission, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section.
(e) The commissioner may deny or revoke a permit based on disciplinary action taken against a dentist pursuant to the provisions of section 20-114.
(P.A. 85-251, S. 2; P.A. 86-403, S. 40, 132; P.A. 92-23, S. 1; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 23, 117; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 202; P.A. 15-163, S. 2; P.A. 16-66, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 86-403 made technical changes to Subsec. (b); P.A. 92-23 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to allow on-site evaluations to be conducted by an individual or individuals selected from a list of site evaluators approved by the commissioner on a schedule established in regulations instead of every five years; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised renewal fee from $50 to $160; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to increase fees from $160 to $200 and made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 15-163 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing references to conscious sedation with references to moderate sedation and deep sedation and adding provision re use of minimal sedation; P.A. 16-66 added Subsec. (e) re denial or revocation of permit based on disciplinary action.
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Sec. 20-123c. Point-of-service test for HbA1c percentage. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Point-of-service test” means diagnostic testing performed at the site where patients will receive care or treatment; and
(2) “HbA1c percentage” means the proportion of hemoglobin to which glucose is attached and measures the average circulating blood glucose level over the previous two to three-month period.
(b) A dentist licensed under this chapter may, during an office visit or prior to a procedure and with a patient's consent, administer an in-office point-of-service test to the patient to measure the patient's HbA1c percentage utilizing a finger-stick measurement tool if such patient is at an increased risk of diabetes and does not have a previous diagnosis of diabetes. A dentist who does not administer such test pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to have violated the standard of care for a dentist. The Commissioner of Public Health may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 19-72, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 19-72 effective July 1, 2019.
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Sec. 20-124. False representations. No person shall falsely claim to hold a certificate of registration, license, diploma or degree granted by a society, school or by the Board of Dental Commissioners, or, with intent to deceive the public, pretend to be a graduate of any dental college or college, or append the letters “D.D.S.” or “D.M.D.” or “M.D.S.” to his name, without having the degree indicated by such letters conferred upon him by diploma from a college, a school or a board of examiners empowered to confer the same.
(1949 Rev., S. 4460; P.A. 92-35, S. 9; P.A. 94-149, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 92-35 added reference to “school”, “dental hygiene program or college” and “R.D.H.”; P.A. 94-149 deleted references to dental hygienists.
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Sec. 20-124a. Dental referral services: Disclosure of acceptance of fee for referral required. It shall be an unfair or deceptive trade practice, in violation of chapter 735a, for any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or agent or employee thereof that engages in for profit, any business or service that in whole or in part includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a licensed dentist or dental practice for any form of dental care or treatment, to fail to disclose to a prospective patient, at the time the prospective patient makes initial contact by any means including advertising with the for-profit business or service, that the licensed dentist has paid a fee for such referral.
(P.A. 93-276; 93-435, S. 61, 95.)
History: P.A. 93-435 corrected chapter citation, effective June 28, 1993.
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Sec. 20-125. Appeal. Any licensee aggrieved by a final decision of the Dental Commission suspending or revoking any license under the provisions of this chapter may appeal therefrom as provided in section 4-183. Appeals brought under this section shall be privileged with respect to the order of trial assignment.
(1949 Rev., S. 4453; 1957, P.A. 398; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 43; 1971, P.A. 179, S. 10; 870, S. 113; P.A. 76-436, S. 421, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 63, 125; 77-614, S. 406, 587, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 36, 127; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 96-47, S. 6.)
History: 1959 act deleted references to certificate of registration; 1971 acts required that petition be brought between 12 and 30 days after service rather than on next or “next but one” return day and, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable, replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced detailed provisions re petitions for restoration of license with statement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183, retaining privileged status of appeals; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 deleted provision granting appeals privileged status, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 restored provision granting appeals privileged status; P.A. 96-47 changed reference to being aggrieved by “the action” to “a final decision” of the Dental Commission.
Cited. 179 C. 415.
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Sec. 20-126. Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a class D felony. Any person who continues to practice dentistry, dental medicine or dental surgery, after his license, certificate, registration or authority to so do has been suspended or revoked and while such disability continues, shall be guilty of a class D felony. For the purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation which is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4462; 1951, S. 2235d; 1967, P.A. 128; P.A. 76-436, S. 422, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 407, 610; P.A. 84-526, S. 9; P.A. 94-149, S. 20; P.A. 13-258, S. 77.)
History: 1967 act added “for a first offense” and “for a second or subsequent offense” to first sentence, increased fine to not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for first, second or subsequent offenses plus term of imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than one year for second or subsequent offense; P.A. 76-436 deleted provision allowing application for injunction to court of common pleas and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 deleted provisions re applications for injunctions, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of chapter to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 94-149 deleted references to dental hygienists; P.A. 13-258 amended penalty for violation of chapter or continued practice without authority from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony and made technical changes.
Such part of Sec. 20-123 as deals with making and repairing prosthetic dentures is not unreasonable or arbitrary exercise of police power and is constitutional; such part as deals with advertising is unconstitutional. 141 C. 288. Cited. 159 C. 363.
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Sec. 20-126a. Payment for dental care of patients in chronic and convalescent hospitals and convalescent homes. Payment for dental care rendered to patients in chronic and convalescent hospitals or convalescent homes shall be made directly to the dentist rendering or directing such care. The Commissioner of Social Services shall not be required to recognize the cost of employing or contracting with a dentist in the rates established for convalescent homes pursuant to section 17b-340.
(P.A. 73-206, S. 2; P.A. 87-139, S. 3; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 94-149, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 87-139 applied provisions to convalescent homes, authorized payment directly to dental hygienists and added provision re recognition of cost by the department of income maintenance when establishing rates; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-149 deleted references to dental hygienists.
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Sec. 20-126b. (Formerly Sec. 20-126v). Permit for advanced dental education. No person shall participate in an advanced dental education program unless he has received a permit issued by the Department of Public Health. The permit shall be issued solely for purposes of participation in an advanced dental education program conducted by a dental or medical school or by a hospital operated by the federal government or licensed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 19a-491. No person shall receive a permit until a statement has been filed with the department on his behalf by the program administration certifying that he is to be enrolled in the program and that he has received the degree of doctor of dental medicine or doctor of dental surgery or its equivalent.
(P.A. 94-149, S. 23; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; Sec. 20-126v transferred to Sec. 20-126b in 1997.
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Sec. 20-126c. Continuing education: Definitions; contact hours; attestation; record-keeping; exemptions; waivers; reinstatement of void licenses. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health;
(2) “Contact hour” means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing education activity;
(3) “Department” means the Department of Public Health;
(4) “Licensee” means any person who receives a license from the department pursuant to this chapter;
(5) “Registration period” means the one-year period for which a license renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 is current and valid; and
(6) “Temporary dental clinic” means a dental clinic that provides dental care services at no cost to uninsured or underinsured persons and operates for not more than seventy-two consecutive hours.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a licensee applying for license renewal shall earn a minimum of twenty-five contact hours of continuing education within the preceding twenty-four-month period. Such continuing education shall (1) be in an area of the licensee's practice; (2) reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public; and (3) include not less than one contact hour of training or education in (A) any three of the ten mandatory topics for continuing education activities prescribed by the commissioner pursuant to this subdivision, (B) for registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, infection control in a dental setting, and (C) prescribing controlled substances and pain management. For registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2011, the Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the Dental Commission, shall on or before October 1, 2010, and biennially thereafter, issue a list that includes ten mandatory topics for continuing education activities that will be required for the following two-year registration period. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line courses, offered or approved by the American Dental Association or state, district or local dental associations and societies affiliated with the American Dental Association; national, state, district or local dental specialty organizations or the American Academy of General Dentistry; a hospital or other health care institution; dental schools and other schools of higher education accredited or recognized by the Council on Dental Accreditation or a regional accrediting organization; agencies or businesses whose programs are accredited or recognized by the Council on Dental Accreditation; local, state or national medical associations; a state or local health department; or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Eight hours of volunteer dental practice at a public health facility, as defined in section 20-126l, or a temporary dental clinic may be substituted for one contact hour of continuing education, up to a maximum of ten contact hours in one twenty-four-month period.
(c) Each licensee applying for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form prescribed by the department. Each licensee shall retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements of said subsection (b) for a minimum of three years following the year in which the continuing education activities were completed and shall submit such records to the department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records.
(d) A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section.
(e) A licensee who is not engaged in active professional practice in any form during a registration period shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section, provided the licensee submits to the department, prior to the expiration of the registration period, a notarized application for exemption on a form prescribed by the department and such other documentation as may be required by the department. The application for exemption pursuant to this subsection shall contain a statement that the licensee may not engage in professional practice until the licensee has met the continuing education requirements of this section.
(f) In individual cases involving medical disability or illness, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements of this section to any licensee, provided the licensee submits to the department an application for waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by the department, along with a certification by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse of the disability or illness and such other documentation as may be required by the commissioner. The commissioner may grant a waiver or extension for a period not to exceed one registration period, except that the commissioner may grant additional waivers or extensions if the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension is granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension and the licensee applies for an additional waiver or extension.
(g) Any licensee whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88 and who applies to the department for reinstatement of such license pursuant to section 19a-14 shall submit evidence documenting successful completion of twelve contact hours of continuing education within the one-year period immediately preceding application for reinstatement.
(P.A. 05-213, S. 11; P.A. 06-195, S. 31; 06-196, S. 248; P.A. 10-117, S. 21; P.A. 12-197, S. 18; P.A. 15-198, S. 3; P.A. 16-39, S. 33; 16-66, S. 10; P.A. 19-72, S. 6; P.A. 21-196, S. 39.)
History: P.A. 06-195 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by providing that continuing education must include at least one contact hour of training or education in each topic specified in newly designated Subparas. (A) to (E), inclusive, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(5), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by adding “include the topics required pursuant to this subdivision”, by providing that existing topics apply to registration periods ending on or before September 30, 2011, and by providing that for registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2011, Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with Dental Commission, shall issue a list of not more than 5 mandatory topics for continuing education activities that will be required for following registration period; P.A. 12-197 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provisions re required continuing education topics with provision requiring training or education in any 5 of 10 mandatory topics prescribed by commissioner, replacing provision re not more than 5 mandatory topics with provision re 10 mandatory topics and making a technical change; P.A. 15-198 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to designate existing provision re topics as Subpara. (A) and amend same to change from 5 to 4 the number of mandatory topics to be included, and to add Subpara. (B) re prescribing controlled substances and pain management; P.A. 16-39 amended Subsec. (f) to add reference to licensed advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 16-66 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to replace “four” with “three” in Subpara. (A), add new Subpara. (B) re infection control in dental setting and redesignate existing Subpara. (B) re prescribing controlled substances and pain management as Subpara. (C); P.A. 19-72 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (6) defining “temporary dental clinic” and making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re substitution of volunteer hours at temporary dental clinic for contact hour of continuing education, effective January 1, 2020; P.A. 21-196 amended Subsec. (f) by adding reference to licensed physician assistant.
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Sec. 20-126d. Professional liability insurance required. Reports from insurance companies. Exception to insurance requirement. Retired dentist providing free services. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each person licensed to practice dentistry under the provisions of this chapter who provides direct patient care services shall maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice. The amount of insurance which each such person shall carry as insurance or indemnity against claims for injury or death for professional malpractice shall be not less than five hundred thousand dollars for one person, per occurrence, with an aggregate of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars.
(b) Each insurance company that issues professional liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 38a-393, shall on and after January 1, 2007, render to the Commissioner of Public Health a true record of the names and addresses, according to classification, of cancellations of and refusals to renew professional liability insurance policies and the reasons for such cancellations or refusals to renew said policies for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding.
(c) A person subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed in compliance with such subsection when providing dental services at a clinic licensed by the Department of Public Health that is recognized as tax exempt pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor internal revenue code, as may be amended from time to time, provided: (1) Such person is not compensated for such services; (2) the clinic does not charge patients for such services; (3) the clinic maintains professional liability insurance coverage in the amounts required by subsection (a) of this section for each aggregated forty hours of service or fraction thereof for such persons; (4) the clinic carries additional appropriate professional liability coverage on behalf of the clinic and its employees in the amounts of five hundred thousand dollars per occurrence, with an aggregate of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars; and (5) the clinic maintains total professional liability coverage of not less than one million dollars per occurrence with an annual aggregate of not less than three million dollars. Such person shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section when providing direct patient care services in any setting other than such clinic. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to relieve the clinic from any insurance requirements otherwise required by law.
(d) No person insured pursuant to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section with a claims-made medical malpractice insurance policy shall lose the right to unlimited additional extended reporting period coverage upon such person's permanent retirement from practice if such person solely provides professional services without charge at a clinic recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of said internal revenue code.
(P.A. 06-195, S. 20; P.A. 07-252, S. 29.)
History: P.A. 07-252 made a technical change in Subsec. (b).
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Sec. 20-126e. Placement of identifying marks on a dental prosthesis. Responsibilities of dentist. Each dentist licensed in this state, who either makes or directs to be made a removable prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance or other structure to be worn in a person's mouth, shall offer to the patient for whom the prosthesis is to be made the opportunity to have such prosthesis marked with the patient's name or initials. Such markings shall be accomplished at the time the prosthesis is made and the location and methods used to apply or implant such markings shall be determined by the dentist or person directed to act on behalf of the dentist. Such marking shall be permanent, legible and cosmetically acceptable. A dentist shall advise the patient of any additional charges that may be incurred to obtain such markings on the prosthesis. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if in the professional judgment of the dentist or the entity that is making the prosthesis, such markings are not practicable or clinically safe, the identifying marks may be omitted entirely.
(P.A. 08-24, S. 1; P.A. 09-11, S. 8; P.A. 10-18, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 09-11 made a technical change; P.A. 10-18 made a technical change.
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Secs. 20-126f and 20-126g. Reserved for future use.
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