§ 25-14-1-23 — Practice of dentistry; delegation; procedures prohibited to be delegated; dental students; pharmacists filling prescriptions; services dental assistants may perform

(a) A person is practicing dentistry within
the meaning of this chapter if the person does any of the following:
(1) Uses the word "dentist" or "dental surgeon", the letters
"D.D.S." or "D.M.D.", or other letters or titles in connection with
dentistry.
(2) Directs and controls the treatment of patients within a place
where dental services are performed.
(3) Advertises or permits to be advertised by sign, card, circular,
handbill, newspaper, radio, or otherwise that the person can or
will attempt to perform dental operations of any kind.
(4) Offers to evaluate, diagnose, prevent, or treat:
(A) diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity and
maxillofacial area;
(B) diseases, disorders, and conditions of the associated and
adjacent structures of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area if:
(i) the dentist is providing emergency care; or
(ii) the dentist has completed postgraduate training and
certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery from a program
certified by the Commission on Dental Accreditation; and
(C) the effects of such diseases, disorders, and conditions on the
human body;
using nonsurgical, surgical, or related procedures.
(5) Extracts human teeth or corrects malpositions of the teeth or
jaws.
(6) Except as provided in IC 25-13-1-10.5 and IC 25-13-1-10.6,
administers dental anesthetics. Nothing in this subdivision shall
be construed to prohibit a physician from practicing in a dental
office as permitted by IC 25-22.5-2-9.
(7) Uses x-ray images for dental diagnostic purposes.
(8) Makes:
(A) oral images for the fabrication of a final restoration,
impression, or cast;
(B) impressions; or
(C) casts of any oral tissues or structures;
for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment thereof or for the
construction, repair, reproduction, or duplication of any prosthetic
device to alleviate or cure any oral lesion or replace any lost oral
structures, tissue, or teeth.
(9) Advertises to the public by any method, except trade and
professional publications, to furnish, supply, construct, reproduce,
repair, or adjust any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance, or other
structure to be worn in the human mouth.
(10) Is the employer of a dentist who is hired to provide dental
services.
(11) Directs or controls the use of dental equipment or dental
material while the equipment or material is being used to provide
dental services. However, a person may lease or provide advice
or assistance concerning dental equipment or dental material if
the person does not restrict or interfere with the custody, control,
or use of the equipment or material by the dentist. This
subdivision does not prevent a dental hygienist who is licensed
under IC 25-13 from owning dental equipment or dental materials
within the dental hygienist's scope of practice.
(12) Directs, controls, or interferes with a dentist's clinical
judgment.
(13) Exercises direction or control over a dentist through a written
contract concerning the following areas of dental practice:
(A) The selection of a patient's course of treatment.
(B) Referrals of patients, except for requiring referrals to be
within a specified provider network, subject to the exceptions
under IC 27-13-36-5.
(C) Content of patient records.
(D) Policies and decisions relating to refunds, if the refund
payment would be reportable under federal law to the National
Practitioner Data Bank, and warranties.
(E) The clinical content of advertising.
(F) Final decisions relating to the employment of dental office
personnel.
However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person from
providing advice or assistance concerning the areas of dental
practice referred to in this subdivision or an insurer (as defined in
IC 27-1-26-1) from carrying out the applicable provisions of IC 27 under which the insurer is licensed.
However, a person does not have to be a dentist to be a manufacturer
of dental prostheses.
(b) In addition to subsection (a), a person is practicing dentistry who
directly or indirectly by any means or method furnishes, supplies,
constructs, reproduces, repairs, or adjusts any prosthetic denture,
bridge, appliance, or any other structure to be worn in the human
mouth and delivers the resulting product to any person other than the
duly licensed dentist upon whose written work authorization the work
was performed. A written work authorization shall include the
following:
(1) The name and address of the dental laboratory to which it is
directed.
(2) The case identification.
(3) A specification of the materials to be used.
(4) A description of the work to be done and, if necessary,
diagrams thereof.
(5) The date of issuance of the authorization.
(6) The signature and address of the licensed dentist or other
dental practitioner by whom the work authorization is issued.
A separate work authorization shall be issued for each patient of the
issuing licensed dentist or other dental practitioner for whom dental
technological work is to be performed.
(c) This section shall not apply to those procedures which a legally
licensed and practicing dentist may delegate to a dental assistant as to
which procedures the dentist exercises direct supervision and
responsibility. However, a dentist may, without providing direct
supervision, delegate the authority to take x-ray images to a dental
assistant working in a state owned or operated correctional facility
administered and supervised by the department of corrections under IC 11-8-2-5(a)(2), so long as the dentist is available to supervise the dental
assistant remotely.
(d) Procedures delegated by a dentist may not include the following:
(1) Those procedures which require professional judgment and
skill such as diagnosis, treatment planning, the cutting of hard or
soft tissues, or any intraoral impression which would lead to the
fabrication of a final prosthetic appliance.
(2) Except for procedures described in subsections (g) and (h),
procedures delegated to a dental assistant may not include
procedures allocated under IC 25-13-1 to a licensed dental
hygienist.
(e) This chapter shall not prevent dental students from performing
dental operations under the supervision of competent instructors within
the dental school or a university recognized by the board or in any
public clinic under the supervision of the authorized superintendent of
such clinic authorized under the authority and general direction of the
board of health or school board of any city or town in Indiana.
(f) Licensed pharmacists of this state may fill prescriptions of
licensed dentists of this state for any drug necessary in the practice of
dentistry.
(g) Notwithstanding IC 25-13-1-11(4), a dental assistant who has
completed a board approved curriculum may apply medicaments for
the control or prevention of dental caries under the direct supervision
of a licensed dentist. The curriculum must include instruction on the
following:
(1) Ethics and jurisprudence.
(2) Reasons for fluorides.
(3) Systemic fluoride.
(4) Topical fluoride.
(5) Fluoride application.
(6) Laboratory work on topical fluoride applications and patient
competency.
(h) Notwithstanding IC 25-13-1-11(3), a dental assistant who has
completed a board approved curriculum may polish the coronal surface
of teeth under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. The
curriculum must include instruction on the following:
(1) Ethics and jurisprudence.
(2) Plaque and materia alba.
(3) Intrinsic and extrinsic stain.
(4) Abrasive agents.
(5) Use of a slow speed hand piece, prophy cup, and occlusal
polishing brush.
(6) Theory of selective polishing.
(7) Laboratory work concerning slow speed hand piece, hand
dexterity, and patient competency.
Formerly: Acts 1913, c.138, s.20; Acts 1917, c.160, s.6; Acts
1931, c.169, s.12; Acts 1943, c.308, s.2; Acts 1963, c.151, s.13; Acts
1971, P.L.372, SEC.9. As amended by P.L.169-1985, SEC.57;
P.L.155-1988, SEC.1; P.L.102-2000, SEC.2; P.L.121-2007, SEC.5;
P.L.134-2008, SEC.24; P.L.264-2013, SEC.12; P.L.31-2021, SEC.1;
P.L.149-2025, SEC.8.