Oklahoma § 59-328.23 - Emergency temporary licenses for dentistry or dental

§ 59-328.23. Emergency temporary licenses for dentistry or dental

hygiene.

A. The President of the Board, upon verification that a person

meets the requirements provided for in this section and any other

requirements provided for in the State Dental Act, may issue an

emergency temporary license to practice dentistry for thirty (30)

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

days. A temporary license may be extended but shall not exceed

ninety (90) days or the next available regularly scheduled Board

meeting.

B. The President of the Board, upon verification that a person

meets the requirements provided for in the State Dental Act, may

issue an emergency temporary license to practice dental hygiene,

which shall expire as of the date of the next dental hygiene

clinical examination in Oklahoma, as required by the Board.

C. An active duty military spouse residing with the active duty

member having met the requirements for licensure shall be eligible

for a temporary license.

D. Any applicant requesting an emergency temporary license

shall submit a letter explaining the exigent circumstances along

with all application materials. The determination of whether or not

to grant the emergency temporary license based upon the exigent

circumstances shall be at the sole discretion of the President or

acting President of the Board.

E. A holder of a temporary license to practice dentistry or

dental hygiene shall have the same rights and privileges and be

governed by the State Dental Act and the rules of the Board in the

same manner as a holder of a permanent license to practice dentistry

and dental hygiene.

F. The President of the Board may authorize patient treatment

and care by individuals taking the Commission on Dental Competency

Assessments (CDCA) or the Western Regional Examining Board exam, or

other regional exams as approved by the Board, in order for such

individuals to complete criteria related to Board examinations. The

Board may authorize specialty examinations to be given throughout

the year as needed.

Added by Laws 1970, c. 173, § 23, eff. July 1, 1970. Amended by

Laws 1996, c. 2, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1998, c. 377, § 4,

eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 2012, c. 270, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2012; Laws

2013, c. 405, § 6, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 9, eff.

July 1, 2015; Laws 2018, c. 151, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2019,

c. 397, § 5; Laws 2021, c. 566, § 4, emerg. eff. May 28, 2021.

§59-328.23a. Special volunteer licenses.

A. There is established a special volunteer license for

dentists and a special volunteer license for dental hygienists who

are retired from active practice or out-of-state licensees in active

practice who are in the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps or assisting

with emergency management, emergency operations or hazard mitigation

in response to any emergency, man-made disaster or natural disaster,

or participating in public health initiatives, disaster drills and

community service events that are endorsed by a city or county

health department or the State Department of Health and wish to

donate their expertise for the dental care and treatment of indigent

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

and needy persons of the state. A special volunteer license may

also be issued for any live patient training approved by the Board

of Dentistry. The special volunteer license shall be:

1. Issued by the Board of Dentistry to eligible persons;

2. Issued without the payment of an application fee, license

fee or renewal fee;

3. Issued or renewed without any continuing education

requirements for a period less than one (1) calendar year; and

4. Issued for one (1) calendar year or part thereof.

B. A special volunteer license may be issued for a dentist or

dental hygienist who is on active duty military service. This

license shall not be subject to paragraph 4 of subsection A of this

section and may be issued for the time period of the tour of duty.

C. A dentist or dental hygienist must meet the following

requirements to be eligible for a special volunteer license:

1. Completion of a special volunteer dental or dental hygiene

license application including documentation of the dental or dental

hygiene school graduation and practice history;

2. Documentation that the dentist or dental hygienist has been

previously issued a full and unrestricted license to practice

dentistry or dental hygiene in this state or in another state of the

United States and that he or she has never been the subject of any

reportable medical or dental disciplinary action in any

jurisdiction. If the dentist or dental hygienist is licensed in

more than one state and any license of the licensee is suspended,

revoked, or subject to any agency order limiting or restricting

practice privileges, or has been voluntarily terminated under threat

of sanction, the dentist or dental hygienist shall be ineligible to

receive a special volunteer license;

3. Acknowledgement and documentation that the dentist’s or

dental hygienist’s practice under the special volunteer license will

be exclusively and totally devoted to providing dental care to needy

and indigent persons in this state;

4. Acknowledgement and documentation that the dentist or dental

hygienist will not receive or have the expectation to receive any

payment or compensation, either direct or indirect, for any dental

services rendered under the special volunteer license; and

5. A listing of all locations and dates that the person will be

completing volunteer work under the special volunteer license.

D. The Board of Dentistry shall have jurisdiction over

dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental

technicians who volunteer their professional services in the state.

Dental assistants and dental technicians shall work under the direct

supervision of a dentist.

E. Dental assistants may be issued a volunteer permit at the

request of an entity that provides dental services to the needy.

Volunteers in a volunteer initiative who are not dentists or dental

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

hygienists shall be named and provided on a list to the Board by the

entity hosting the volunteer initiative with any other requirements

as set forth by the Board. The Board shall provide written

documentation to the host entity designating all persons who may

participate in the volunteer initiative including authorization of

the timetable requested by the host entity for granting licensure

exemption. Any person working under a volunteer dental assistant

permit shall not receive payment or compensation for any services

rendered under the volunteer dental assistant permit. Volunteer

dental assistant permits shall be limited to specific dates and

locations of services to be provided.

F. All persons providing care shall do so under the provisions

specified in Section 328.1 et seq. of this title or rules

promulgated by the Board. Only those functions authorized by law or

administrative rule shall be performed by the named person approved

by the Board.

G. Volunteers shall not use sedation or general anesthesia

during volunteer procedures.

H. Volunteers shall use a form to be provided by the Board for

any patient with clear instructions for any and all follow-up care.

I. At any time, the Board shall revoke a volunteer license

based on documentation of failure to participate according to state

laws or administrative rules.

J. A special volunteer license shall be restricted to services

provided at the locations listed on the application or for a

specific not-for-profit treatment provider group as approved by the

Board.

K. A special volunteer license may be issued to a dentist with

an active license in good standing in another state for the purpose

of participating in a continuing education class that includes live

patient treatment as a part of the training program.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 138, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2003. Amended by Laws

2009, c. 192, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 10, eff.

July 1, 2015; Laws 2021, c. 566, § 5, emerg. eff. May 28, 2021; Laws

2022, c. 158, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2022; Laws 2024, c. 46, § 4, eff.

Nov. 1, 2024.

§59-328.23b. Retired volunteer licenses.

A dentist, dental hygienist or dental assistant who has been

licensed or permitted in good standing with the Board in excess of

twenty (20) years on a consecutive basis may apply for a retired

volunteer dentist, dental hygienist or dental assistant license or

permit on a yearly basis to provide volunteer services. There shall

be no continuing education requirements. A retired dentist, dental

hygienist or dental assistant with a retired volunteer license or

permit shall not receive payment either directly or indirectly for

work provided.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

Added by Laws 2015, c. 229, § 11, eff. July 1, 2015. Amended by

Laws 2016, c. 113, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2017, c. 302, § 3,

emerg. eff. May 17, 2017.