Alabama Administrative Code Title 270 - BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS OF ALABAMA
Title 270 of the Alabama Administrative Code is dedicated to the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama. This Board is the state regulatory body responsible for overseeing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in Alabama. Its fundamental purpose is to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that only qualified individuals provide dental care and that all licensees adhere to professional standards.
Purpose and Functions of the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama
The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama has a long history, being one of the first such regulatory bodies in the nation, established in 1881. Its core responsibilities, derived from the Alabama Dental Practice Act (Code of Alabama (1975) § 34-9-1, et seq.), include:
Licensure: The primary function is to examine, license, and register qualified applicants to practice dentistry and dental hygiene in Alabama. This includes initial licensure, licensure by credentials (for out-of-state practitioners), and specialty licenses.
Setting Qualifications: Establishing and enforcing the educational, examination, and experience requirements for both dentists and dental hygienists. This typically involves graduation from accredited programs, passing national board examinations (like NBDE or INBDE), regional clinical examinations (e.g., ADEX, CDCA, CRDTS, SRTA), and a state-specific jurisprudence examination covering Alabama dental law and rules.
Scope of Practice: Defining the legal scope of practice for dentists and dental hygienists, specifying what procedures each can legally perform and under what level of supervision (e.g., direct, indirect, general). This includes regulations on administering anesthesia/sedation (General Anesthesia, Parenteral Sedation, Oral Conscious Sedation, Hygiene Infiltration Anesthesia) and newer procedures like the administration of botulinum toxin and dermal fillers for therapeutic and/or esthetic purposes within the head and neck region.
Continuing Education: Mandating and monitoring continuing education (CE) requirements for annual license renewal to ensure licensees maintain and enhance their professional competence. These often include mandatory hours in specific topics like infectious disease control, ethics, and prescribing controlled substances.
Professional Conduct and Standards: Adopting and enforcing rules of professional conduct, ethical guidelines, and standards of care for all licensees. This covers areas such as patient records, infection control, advertising, and patient abandonment.
Investigation and Discipline: Receiving, investigating, and adjudicating complaints against licensees (dentists and dental hygienists) and taking appropriate disciplinary action for violations of the Dental Practice Act or the Board's administrative rules. This can include warnings, fines, suspension, or revocation of licenses.
Facility Permits and Registrations: Issuing permits for various dental operations, such as mobile dental facilities, portable dental operations, and overseeing the registration of 501(c)(3) entities operating dental clinics.
Regulation of Dental Assistants and Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP): While dental assistants are not licensed by the Board, the Board often regulates certain advanced functions they can perform and may oversee programs that train them, such as the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP), which is an alternative pathway for dental assistant training and subsequent dental hygiene licensure.
Fee Structure: Establishing and collecting fees for applications, examinations, licenses, permits, and renewals.
Structure of the Alabama Administrative Code for the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama (Title 270)
Title 270 is organized into several distinct chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of the Board's regulatory authority.
Chapter 270-X-1 - INTERNAL BOARD MATTERS:
Covers the internal operations of the Board, such as its organization, meeting procedures, and potentially the roles and responsibilities of Board members and staff.
Chapter 270-X-2 - DENTISTS:
This is a core chapter detailing regulations specifically for dentists. It includes:
Licensure Requirements: Educational qualifications (CODA-accredited dental school), examination requirements (NBDE/INBDE, regional clinical exams, Alabama Jurisprudence Exam), and application procedures.
Licensure by Credentials: Requirements for dentists licensed in other states to obtain an Alabama license.
Specialty Licenses: Regulations for recognized dental specialties.
Continuing Education: Specific hours and topics required for dentists (e.g., 20 hours annually, with mandatory hours in infectious disease control, ethics, and controlled substance prescribing).
Scope of Practice: Detailed rules on procedures dentists can perform, including administration of sedation/anesthesia (General Anesthesia, Parenteral Sedation, Oral Conscious Sedation) and the administration of botulinum toxin and dermal fillers (Rule 270-X-2-.25).
Advertising and Marketing: Rules governing appropriate advertising practices.
Chapter 270-X-3 - DENTAL HYGIENISTS:
This chapter focuses on the regulation of dental hygienists. It covers:
Licensure Requirements: Educational qualifications, examination requirements, and application procedures.
Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP): Specific rules for students in the ADHP, including employment, supervision, and academic instruction requirements (Rule 270-X-3-.04).
Continuing Education: Requirements for dental hygienists (e.g., 12 hours annually, with mandatory hours in infectious disease control and ethics, plus Basic Life Support certification).
Scope of Practice and Supervision Levels: Defines the procedures dental hygienists can perform and the required level of dentist supervision (direct, indirect, general). This includes rules for Hygiene Infiltration Anesthesia.
Chapter 270-X-4 - MISCELLANEOUS:
This chapter encompasses a variety of other important rules, such as:
Regulations for professional corporations formed by dentists.
Rules concerning clinical dental facilities of institutions and schools.
Requirements for dental assistant training institutions seeking Board approval.
Rules for mobile dental operations and portable dental facilities.
Registration of 501(c)(3) entities operating dental clinics.
Provisions related to retired licensees or those seeking fee waivers.
Rules for Service-Connected Practitioner license portability.
Chapter 270-X-5 - ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE:
This chapter outlines the general procedural rules for the Board's administrative actions, including:
Complaints and Investigations: How complaints are filed, investigated, and processed.
Disciplinary Procedures: Procedures for hearings, appeals, and the imposition of disciplinary actions.
Public Records: Rules related to public access to Board records.
Where to Find the Rules:
The official and most up-to-date source for the Alabama Administrative Code, including Title 270 for the Board of Dental Examiners, is the Alabama Legislative Services Agency's website, which publishes the Alabama Administrative Code.
You can also find them on legal information platforms like:
The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama's official website (dentalboard.org) is an invaluable resource. It provides direct links to the full Dental Practice Act (statutes) and the Board's Administrative Rules, along with current news, licensing applications, renewal information, continuing education details, and contact information. This website is often the most practical starting point for anyone seeking specific details.
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