36-6A-14. Powers and duties of board.

The board may:

(1)    Establish standards for, and promote, the safe and qualified practice of dentistry;

(2)    Conduct all disciplinary proceedings under this chapter;

(3)    Establish educational, training and competency standards governing the examination and practice of dentists and dental hygienists using national accrediting agencies and accepted nationally established standards if applicable;

(4)    Examine, or cause to be examined, for competency, an eligible applicant for a license to practice as a dentist or a dental hygienist or a registration to practice as a dental radiographer or registered dental assistant;

(5)    Issue a license to practice as a dentist or a dental hygienist to an applicant who has met the licensure standards of this chapter and renew the licenses of dentists and dental hygienists who continue to meet the licensure standards of this chapter;

(6)    Issue a registration to practice as a dental radiographer or a registered dental assistant to an applicant who has met the registration standards of this chapter and renew the registrations of dental radiographers and registered dental assistants that continue to meet the registration standards of this chapter;

(7)    Establish minimum educational, training and competency standards governing the practice of dental radiographers, registered dental assistants, and dental assistants;

(8)    Establish reasonable requirements governing the reentry into practice of inactive practitioners and reinstatement of previously licensed practitioners;

(9)    Establish and collect fees as provided for by this chapter;

(10)    Permit dental hygienists and dental assistants to perform, under the supervision of a dentist, additional procedures established by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26;

(11)    Establish continuing education and continuing competency requirements for dentists, dental hygienists, dental radiographers, and registered dental assistants;

(12)    Establish requirements governing the prescriptive authority of dentists;

(13)    Establish minimum educational, training, and competency standards governing the administration of sedation and anesthesia;

(14)    Establish continuing education and continuing competency requirements for the administration of sedation and anesthesia;

(15)    Communicate disciplinary actions and license and registration status to relevant state and federal governing bodies as may be required;

(16)    Employ personnel in accordance with the needs and budget of the board;

(17)    Enter into contracts as necessary to carry out the board's responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

(18)    Establish standards for teledentistry;

(19)    Establish standards and registration requirements governing dental corporations;

(20)    Promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to effectuate the provisions of this chapter;

(21)    Pursue legal actions against a person or entity that is not authorized to act by this chapter; and

(22)    Carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

Source: SL 1981, ch 275, § 8; SL 1984, ch 250, § 2; SL 1988, ch 297, § 1; SL 1992, ch 269, § 13; SL 1993, ch 344, § 39Q; SL 2015, ch 199, § 12.