HB 2163 — An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental Law, further providing for definitions, for general powers of the State Board of Dentistry, for penalties and for restricted faculty license.

PRINTER'S NO.     2800

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2163
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY MADDEN, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ,
        BURNS, RIVERA, DALEY AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, JANUARY 28, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
        JANUARY 28, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), entitled "An
 2      act relating to dentistry; defining and providing for the
 3      licensing and registration of dentists and dental hygienists,
 4      and for the revocation and suspension of such licenses and
 5      registrations, subject to appeal, and for their
 6      reinstatement; defining the powers and duties of the State
 7      Dental Council and Examining Board and the Department of
 8      Public Instruction; providing penalties; and repealing
 9      existing laws," further providing for definitions, for
10      general powers of the State Board of Dentistry, for penalties
11      and for restricted faculty license.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.    The definitions of "practice of dentistry" and
15   "restricted faculty license" in section 2 of the act of May 1,
16   1933 (P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental Law, are amended to
17   read:
18      Section 2.    Definitions.--A person engages in the "Practice
19   of Dentistry," within the meaning of this act, who diagnoses,
20   treats, operates on, or prescribes for any disease, pain or
21   injury, or regulates any deformity or physical condition, of the
22   human teeth, jaws, or associated structures, or conducts a
 1   physical evaluation, or administers anesthetic agents, or uses
 2   ionizing radiation in the course of dental practice, or who
 3   fits, constructs, and inserts any artificial appliance, plate,
 4   or denture for the human teeth or jaws, or who holds himself or
 5   herself out as being able or legally authorized to do so. The
 6   term "Practice of Dentistry" includes the practice of dentistry
 7   under a restricted faculty license. The term "Practice of
 8   Dentistry" does not include:
 9      (a)   The practice of any of the healing arts by duly licensed
10   practitioners.
11      (b)   The extracting of teeth or relieving pain by a licensed
12   physician or surgeon in emergencies, or the making of
13   applications for such purposes.
14      (c)   The practice of dentistry by a duly licensed
15   practitioner of dentistry of any other state or country, for the
16   limited purpose of consultation with respect to any case under
17   treatment in this Commonwealth, or of demonstrating before any
18   duly authorized dental society in this Commonwealth.
19      (e)   The practice of dentistry in clinical departments and
20   laboratories of dental schools and their affiliated facilities
21   approved by the board in the Commonwealth, by bona fide students
22   pursuing a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of
23   Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine.
24      (f)   The practice of dentistry in a dental clinic operated
25   not for profit for the duration of an internship, residency or
26   other graduate training program approved by the American Dental
27   Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or a dental
28   anesthesiology training program that meets the standards of an
29   accrediting body acceptable to the board, by persons having
30   acquired the preliminary and professional education required for

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 1   admission into the program, after notification to the board.
 2      (g)   The practice of dentistry in a clinical continuing
 3   education course offered by a dental school in this Commonwealth
 4   for a duration of [twenty days or less] one year, either
 5   continuous or in several sessions, where dentists licensed in
 6   the United States or other countries work under the direct
 7   supervision of dentists licensed by the Commonwealth, and
 8   delivered within the educational facilities of a dental school
 9   in this Commonwealth that is approved by the American Dental
10   Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
11      * * *
12      "Restricted Faculty License" means a license granted to an
13   individual for the limited purpose of teaching, including
14   clinical teaching, in [a dental school or] any of the following:
15      (1)   A clinical facility owned and operated by a dental
16   school or affiliated academic health care center when the
17   clinical facility or affiliated academic health care center is
18   not operated for the profit of the dental school or any
19   affiliated third party.
20      (2)   An advanced dental education program as a faculty member
21   at an accredited dental school in this Commonwealth.
22      * * *
23      Section 2.   Sections 3(c), (d) and (d.1)(1) introductory
24   paragraph, 10(g.1) and 11.11(a) introductory paragraph and (3)
25   and (b) of the act are amended to read:
26      Section 3.   General Powers of the State Board of Dentistry.--
27   The State Board of Dentistry (hereinafter called the board)
28   shall have the following powers and duties:
29      * * *
30      (c)   To provide for and to regulate the licensing, and to

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 1   license to practice dentistry, after examination, any duly
 2   qualified applicant, at least twenty-one years of age, of good
 3   moral character, not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor
 4   or narcotic drugs, who has obtained the required education,
 5   together with a diploma from an approved institution or college
 6   conferring upon him or her the degree of doctor of dental
 7   surgery or other established dental degree. In assessing the
 8   moral character of an individual with a criminal conviction, the
 9   board shall conduct an individualized assessment in accordance
10   with 63 Pa.C.S. § 3113 (relating to consideration of criminal
11   convictions). The board shall not issue a license to an
12   applicant who has been convicted of a felony under the act of
13   April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as "The Controlled
14   Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," or of an offense
15   under the laws of another jurisdiction which if committed in
16   this Commonwealth would be a felony under "The Controlled
17   Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," unless: (1) at least
18   ten (10) years have elapsed from the date of conviction, (2) the
19   applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board that he has
20   made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the
21   conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be
22   expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and
23   safety of his patients or the public or a substantial risk of
24   further criminal violations, and (3) the applicant otherwise
25   satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this
26   act. As used in this section the term "convicted" shall include
27   a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.
28      * * *
29      (d)   To provide for and to regulate the licensing, and to
30   license as a dental hygienist, after examination, any duly

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 1   qualified person, not less than eighteen years of age, of good
 2   moral character, not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor
 3   or narcotic drugs, who has obtained the required education for
 4   the training of dental hygienists from an approved institution
 5   or college that meets or exceeds the minimum standards
 6   established by an approved United States Department of
 7   Education-recognized regional accrediting agency or the American
 8   Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. In
 9   assessing the moral character of an individual with a criminal
10   conviction, the board shall conduct an individualized assessment
11   in accordance with 63 Pa.C.S. § 3113. The board shall,
12   consistent with this act, adopt regulations providing for the
13   general supervision and practice of dental hygienists under this
14   act.
15      (d.1)   (1)   To provide for and to regulate the certification
16   and to certify as an expanded function dental assistant any duly
17   qualified person[,] who is not less than eighteen years of age,
18   of good moral character[,] and not addicted to the use of
19   intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs[, who has:]. In assessing
20   the moral character of an individual with a criminal conviction,
21   the board shall conduct an individualized assessment in
22   accordance with 63 Pa.C.S. § 3113. To be a duly qualified person
23   for a certification as an expanded function dental assistant,
24   the person must have:
25      * * *
26      Section 10.   Penalties.--* * *
27      (g.1)   It is unlawful for any restricted faculty licensee to
28   practice dentistry outside the [primary facilities of the dental
29   school] facilities owned or operated by a dental school, an
30   affiliated academic health care center or a dental school-owned

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 1   faculty practice in this Commonwealth at which the individual is
 2   licensed to teach.
 3      * * *
 4      Section 11.11.    Restricted Faculty License.--(a)   The board
 5   shall grant without examination a restricted faculty license to
 6   any qualified individual[,] under this subsection who is not
 7   less than twenty-five years of age, of good moral character[,]
 8   and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic
 9   drugs[, who satisfies the following criteria:]. In assessing the
10   moral character of an individual with a criminal conviction, the
11   board shall conduct an individualized assessment in accordance
12   with 63 Pa.C.S. § 3113 (relating to consideration of criminal
13   convictions). To be a qualified individual under this
14   subsection, the individual must satisfy the following criteria:
15      * * *
16      (3)    Has successfully completed [a] any of the following:
17      (i)    A specialty dentistry program, or advanced dental
18   training in a clinical field, including advanced education in
19   general dentistry or general practice residency, that is
20   approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the
21   American Dental Association.
22      (ii)    Training in a dental specialty or in advanced clinical
23   education from an international program.
24      * * *
25      (b)    A restricted faculty license shall entitle the licensee
26   to engage as a full-time faculty member in direct clinical
27   teaching and practice, which shall include practicing clinical
28   care for the purpose of instructing and teaching students and
29   residents, [and] supervision of care provided by students and
30   residents and practicing dentistry at an educational clinic for

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 1   the purpose of maintaining skills, in no more than one area of
 2   specialty or in general dentistry, only within the educational
 3   facilities [of] owned or operated by a dental school, an
 4   affiliated academic health care center or a dental school-owned
 5   faculty practice in this Commonwealth that is approved by the
 6   Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
 7   Association. [Licensees shall be limited to the primary
 8   facilities within the dental school and may not engage in
 9   clinical teaching at satellite or other off-campus sites, such
10   as clinics. The practice of dentistry at any satellite or off-
11   campus site requires an unrestricted license to practice
12   dentistry issued by the board.]
13      * * *
14      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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