2015 legislative report

AzDA modernized Arizona dental practice and expanded the dental workforce

During the 2015 legislative session, AzDA helped create the Expanded Function Dental Assistant credential, establish teledentistry in Arizona law, modernize Dental Board processes, and build momentum to restore adult dental coverage.

Workforce modernization Teledentistry Regulatory reform Access to care
2 major dental reform bills signed into law
1 new expanded-function dental credential created
1st formal recognition of teledentistry in Arizona dental law
2016 next-session campaign launched for adult dental benefits
Featured workforce achievement

The law created Expanded Function Dental Assistants, removed barriers to school-based sealant programs, recognized teledentistry, and updated dental hygiene and affiliated practice rules.

Expanded-function assistants School sealant access Teledentistry recognized Stronger dentist collaboration
Workforce modernization

Expanded duties and more efficient delivery of dental care

SB1282 modernized the way dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists could work together while preserving dentist supervision and professional accountability.

Signed into law
SB1282

Expanded dental workforce and teledentistry reform

Effective July 3, 2015
Practice impact

Qualified dental assistants and hygienists gained authority to perform additional restorative and preventive procedures, allowing dental practices and public health programs to use their teams more efficiently.

Expanded Function Dental Assistants

Qualified EFDAs may place and carve restorations and place and cement prefabricated crowns under the direct supervision of the dentist.

Preventive services

EFDAs may apply sealants and fluoride varnish under general supervision and place interim therapeutic restorations following a teledentistry consultation.

Accredited training

Training must be completed through a CODA-accredited dental assisting program and include a Board-approved examination.

Dental hygienists

Qualified dental hygienists may perform the same expanded restorative functions after completing equivalent training.

School sealant programs

The law removed the requirement for a dental examination before a sealant could be placed, improving the efficiency of school-based prevention programs.

Teledentistry

Arizona law formally recognized interactive audio, video, and data communication for diagnosis, consultation, treatment planning, and directing care.

Dental hygiene scope clarification

  • Clarified that hygienists inspect the oral cavity and collect clinical information to support a dentist's diagnosis.
  • Recognized periodontal screening and assessment.
  • Removed language authorizing placement of periodontal sutures.
  • Allowed qualified hygienists to perform EFDA restorative functions.
Affiliated practice safeguards
  • Strengthened consultation and referral requirements between affiliated-practice hygienists and dentists.
  • Required patients to be told that hygiene treatment does not replace a dentist's diagnosis or treatment plan.
  • Required standing orders and timely referral procedures.
  • Limited a dentist to three affiliated-practice hygienists working at one time.
Public-health implementation

The law required patient consent for teledentistry and directed AHCCCS to develop standards for implementing teledentistry services.

Regulatory reform

Greater transparency and clearer licensing standards

HB2496 updated the Dental Board's procedures regarding public records, licensure, credentialing, monitoring programs, and professional evaluations.

Signed into law
HB2496

Dental Board omnibus reform

Effective July 3, 2015
Regulatory impact

The law improved public access to Dental Board information, standardized parts of the licensing process, and clarified responsibility for professional evaluation costs.

Public meeting transparency

The Dental Board must post audio recordings of its proceedings on the BODEX website.

Fingerprint clearance

Dentist, dental hygienist, and denturist applicants must obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card.

Licensure by credential

The Board must establish minimum active practice-hour requirements for applicants licensed in other jurisdictions.

Online Board actions

Non-disciplinary actions and letters of concern must be posted online, subject to existing time limits.

Monitoring programs

The law updated the Board's substance-abuse and monitoring provisions, including procedures following relapse.

Evaluation costs

Licensees are responsible for the costs of required physical, psychological, psychiatric, or competency evaluations.

Access to care

Building the case for restoring adult dental benefits

Although HB2492 did not receive final funding, the effort generated legislative support, research, and momentum that continued into the successful 2016 campaign.

Continued to 2016
HB2492

Adult AHCCCS and ALTCS dental services

No final action
Proposed impact

The measure would have restored the adult emergency dental benefit under AHCCCS and preventive and emergency services for intellectually and developmentally disabled and elderly disabled ALTCS members.

2015 legislative result

HB2492 received a favorable recommendation from the House Health Committee but did not advance through the House Appropriations Committee.

Without an appropriation, the proposed benefits were not restored during the 2015 session.

Foundation for the next session
  • University of Arizona research documented emergency department use caused by untreated dental disease.
  • The data showed that hospital treatment often failed to resolve the underlying dental problem.
  • Legislators circulated a letter urging the Governor to include ALTCS dental coverage in the next budget.
Result in the following year

The advocacy and supporting research developed in 2015 helped lay the groundwork for the restoration of ALTCS dental coverage in the 2016 state budget.

A foundation for future progress

2015 helped modernize Arizona dentistry for the decade ahead

Through workforce reform, teledentistry, improved regulatory transparency, and persistent access-to-care advocacy, AzDA helped create policy changes that continued to produce results in later legislative sessions.

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