Colorado Code § 12-220-305

What constitutes practicing dentistry - authority to electronically prescribe
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(1) A person is practicing dentistry if the person:
(a) Performs or attempts or professes to perform any dental operation, oral surgery, or
dental diagnostic or therapeutic services of any kind; except that nothing in this subsection (1)(a)
prohibits a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant from providing preventive dental
or nutritional counseling, education, or instruction services;
(b) Is a proprietor of a place where dental operation, oral surgery, or dental diagnostic or
therapeutic services are performed; except that nothing in this subsection (1)(b) prohibits a
dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant from performing those tasks and procedures
consistent with section 12-220-501;
(c) Directly or indirectly, by any means or method, takes impression of the human tooth,
teeth, jaws, maxillofacial area, or adjacent and associated structures; performs any phase of any
operation incident to the replacement of a part of a tooth; or supplies artificial substitutes for the
natural teeth, jaws, or adjacent and associated structures; except that nothing in this subsection
(1)(c) prohibits a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant from performing tasks and
procedures consistent with sections 12-220-501 (3)(b)(III), 12-220-503 (1)(d), and 12-220-508;
(d) Furnishes, supplies, constructs, reproduces, or repairs any prosthetic denture, bridge,
appliance, or other structure to be worn in the human mouth or upon the jaws, maxillofacial area,
or adjacent and associated structures other than on the written laboratory work order of a duly
licensed and practicing dentist;
(e) Places an appliance or structure described in subsection (1)(d) of this section in the
human mouth;
(f) Adjusts or attempts or professes to adjust an appliance or structure described in
subsection (1)(d) of this section;
(g) Delivers an appliance or structure described in subsection (1)(d) of this section to any
person other than the dentist upon whose laboratory work order the work was performed;
(h) Professes 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 the human
mouth or upon the jaws, maxillofacial area, or adjacent and associated structures;
(i) Examines, diagnoses, plans treatment of, or treats natural or artificial structures or
conditions associated with, adjacent to, or functionally related to the oral cavity, jaws,
maxillofacial area, or adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body;
(j) Extracts or attempts to extract human teeth or corrects, or attempts to correct,
malformations of human teeth or jaws; except that this subsection (1)(j) does not prohibit a
dental therapist from performing tasks and procedures consistent with section 12-220-508;
(k) Repairs or fills cavities in human teeth; except that this subsection (1)(k) does not
prohibit a dental therapist from performing tasks and procedures consistent with section 12-220-
508;
(l) Prescribes ionizing radiation or the use of an X ray for the purpose of taking dental X
rays or roentgenograms; except that nothing in this subsection (1)(l) prohibits these procedures
from being delegated to appropriately trained personnel in accordance with this article 220 and
rules of the board;
(m) Gives or professes to give interpretations or readings of dental X rays or
roentgenograms, CT scans, or other diagnostic methodologies; except that nothing in this
subsection (1)(m) prohibits a dental hygienist from performing tasks and procedures consistent
with sections 12-220-503 and 12-220-504 or a dental therapist from performing tasks consistent
with section 12-220-508;
(n) Represents himself or herself to an individual or the general public as practicing
dentistry, by using the words "dentist" or "dental surgeon", or by using the letters "D.D.S.",
"D.M.D.", "D.D.S./M.D.", or "D.M.D./M.D." Nothing in this subsection (1)(n) prohibits a dental
therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant from performing tasks and procedures consistent
with section 12-220-501 (2), (2.5), or (3)(b).
(o) States, permits to be stated, or professes by any means or method whatsoever that the
person can perform or will attempt to perform dental operations or render a diagnosis connected
with dental operations;
(p) Prescribes drugs or medications and administers local anesthesia, analgesia including
nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation, medication prescribed or administered for the relief of anxiety
or apprehension, minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia as
necessary for the proper practice of dentistry; except that nothing in this subsection (1)(p)
prohibits:
(I) A dental hygienist from performing those tasks and procedures consistent with
sections 12-220-501, 12-220-503 (1)(e) and (1)(g), and 12-220-504 (1)(c), and in accordance
with rules promulgated by the board; or
(II) A dental therapist from performing those tasks and procedures consistent with
sections 12-220-501 (2.5) and 12-220-508 and in accordance with rules promulgated by the
board.
(q) Prescribes, induces, and sets dosage levels for inhalation anesthesia; except that
nothing in this subsection (1)(q) prohibits the delegation of monitoring and administration to
appropriately trained personnel in accordance with this article 220 and rules of the board;
(r) Gives or professes to give interpretations or readings of dental charts or records or
gives treatment plans or interpretations of treatment plans derived from examinations, patient
records, dental X rays, or roentgenograms; except that nothing in this subsection (1)(r) prohibits
a dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant from performing tasks and procedures
consistent with sections 12-220-501 (2), (2.5), and (3), 12-220-503, 12-220-504, and 12-220-
508.
(2) A licensed dentist may prescribe orders electronically.

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