2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 35 - Dentists and Dental Hygienists
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 12-35-133. Construction of dental devices by unlicensed technician

(1) (a) A licensed dentist who uses the services of an unlicensed technician for the purpose of constructing, altering, repairing, or duplicating any denture, bridge, splint, or orthodontic or prosthetic appliance shall furnish the unlicensed technician with a written or electronic laboratory work order in a form approved by the board, which form must be dated and signed by the dentist for each separate and individual piece of work. The dentist shall make the laboratory work order in a reproducible form, and the dentist and the unlicensed technician shall each retain a copy in a permanent file for two years. The permanent files of the licensed dentist and the unlicensed technician shall be open to inspection at any reasonable time by the board or its duly constituted agent. The licensed dentist that furnishes the laboratory work order shall have appropriate training, education, and experience related to the prescribed treatment and is responsible for directly supervising all intraoral treatment rendered to the patient.

(b) An unlicensed technician that possesses a valid laboratory work order may provide extraoral construction, manufacture, fabrication, supply, or repair of identified dental and orthodontic devices but shall not provide intraoral service in a human mouth except under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in accordance with section 12-35-128 (3) (d).

(2) If the dentist fails to keep permanent records of laboratory work orders as required in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, the dentist is subject to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the board.

(3) If an unlicensed technician fails to have in his or her possession a laboratory work order signed by a licensed dentist with each denture, bridge, splint, or orthodontic or prosthetic appliance in his or her possession, the absence of the laboratory work order is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section and constitutes the practice of dentistry without an active license in violation of, and subject to the penalties specified in, section 12-35-135.