Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
"Dentistry," pursuant to section
12-315-104(20),
C.R.S., is considered the practice of veterinary medicine.
A. Dentistry means the diagnosing, treating,
correcting, changing, relieving, or preventing abnormalities of the oral cavity
or associated structures, including surgical, non-surgical, or related
procedures, and includes:
1. The application
or use of any instrument or device to any portion of an animal's tooth, gum, or
any related tissue for the prevention, cure, or relief of any wound, fracture,
injury, or disease of an animal's tooth, gum, or related tissue; and
2. Preventive dental procedures including,
but not limited to the removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, stains, or
the smoothing, filing, or polishing of tooth surfaces.
3. Dentistry does not include teeth cleaning
or preventive dental procedures that are limited to the utilization of cotton
swabs, gauze, dental floss, dentifrice, or toothbrushes on an animal's
teeth.
B. The practice of
dentistry requires:
1. Establishing and
maintaining a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), as defined in
section 12-315-104(19),
C.R.S.;
2. Creating and maintaining
an animal patient record pursuant to section
12-315-119(3)(b),
C.R.S.; and
3. Documenting that
informed consent from the owner, agent, or party responsible for the patient
was obtained. If anesthesia-free dentistry/dental cleaning is being considered
as a dental treatment option, then its limited efficacy in addressing
periodontal disease as compared to preventive and therapeutic dental procedures
completed under the utilization of general anesthesia must be thoroughly
discussed with the owner, agent, or party responsible for the patient as part
of obtaining and documenting informed consent.
C. The practice of dentistry, excluding
making a diagnosis and performing surgical procedures, may be delegated to
veterinary personnel under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian
pursuant to section
12-315-105(1)(j),
C.R.S., and as described in Rule 1.6(B)(1)
1.
Direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian is required for the practice of
"teeth floating" or "floating of teeth" with motorized high-speed tools, and
sedation must be provided by a licensed veterinarian as part of the
procedure.
2. Indirect supervision
of "teeth floating" or "floating of teeth" using hand tools, may occur under
the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The use of an oral
sedative prescribed by a licensed veterinarian to the owner is
permitted.
