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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
business entities; licensees; exemptions
Purpose
Exempts dental schools, dental therapy schools and dental hygiene schools from the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (BODEX) registration requirements.
Background
BODEX is established to promote the safe and professional practice of dentistry. The mission of BODEX is to provide professional, courteous service and information to the dental profession and the general public through the: 1) examination and licensure process; 2) complaint adjudication and enforcement processes; and 3) protection of oral health, safety and welfare of Arizona citizens through a fair and impartial system (A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 11).
A business entity or facility that offers dental services must be
registered by BODEX. Statute exempts the following business entities from the
BODEX registration requirement: 1) a sole proprietorship or partnership that
consists exclusively of licensed dentists; 2) a service corporation, an insurer
authorized to transact disability insurance, a prepaid dental plan organization
or health care services organization that does not provide directly for prepaid
dental services; 3) a professional corporation or a professional limited
liability company whose shares are exclusively owned by licensed dentists and
is formed to engage in the practice of dentistry;
4) a facility regulated by the federal government or a state, district or
territory of the United States; and 5) executors or administrators of the
estate of a deceased dentist or a person who is legally authorized to act for a
dentist who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent for up to one year
after the death or incapacitation. Additionally, a facility that offers dental
services to the public by a persons licensed by BODEX must register with BODEX
unless the facility is: 1) owned by a licensed dentist; or 2) regulated by the
federal government or a state, district or territory of the United States.
The dentistry regulatory statutes do not require licensure for: 1) an intern or student of dentistry, dental therapy or dental hygiene to operate in the clinical department or laboratories of a recognized dental, dental therapy or dental hygiene school or hospital under the supervision of a dentist; or 2) a dentist, dental therapist or dental hygienist to practice for educational purposes on behalf of a recognized dental, dental therapy or dental hygiene school (A.R.S. § 32-1231).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Exempts the following from business entity or facility registration requirements with BODEX:
a) a recognized dental school;
b) a recognized dental therapy school; and
c) a recognized dental hygiene school.
2. Specifies that an intern or student of dentistry, dental therapy or dental hygiene is not prohibited from practicing, rather than operating, in the clinical departments or laboratories of a recognized dental, dental therapy or dental hygiene school or hospital under the supervision of a dentist without BODEX licensure.
3. Specifies that a dentist, dental therapist or dental hygienist is not prohibited from practicing in the clinical departments or laboratories of a recognized dental, dental therapy or dental hygiene school without BODEX licensure, rather than from practicing for educational purposes on behalf of a recognized school.
4. States that BODEX has no jurisdiction or authority over a person, whether or not licensed in Arizona, who is acting in the scope of practice for clinical departments or laboratories of a recognized dental, dental therapy or dental hygiene school, except a licensee:
a) is subject to BODEX jurisdiction for a violation that are grounds for disciplinary action; and
b) is required to comply with mandatory reporting of criminal charges.
5. Makes technical changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 15, 2026
JT/HD/ci