Wis. Stat. § 447.02 — WI Code / Chapter 447 / Section 447.02
Dentistry examining board.
Status: in_force

(1) The examining board may promulgate rules:

(a) Governing the reexamination of an applicant who fails an examination specified in s. 447.04 (1) (a) 5. , (1m) (e) , or (2) (a) 5. The rules may specify additional educational requirements for those applicants and may specify the number of times an applicant may be examined.

(b) Governing the standards and conditions for the use of radiation and ionizing equipment in the practice of dentistry or dental therapy.

(c) Subject to ch. 553 and s. 447.06 (1) , governing dental franchising.

(d) Specifying practices, in addition to the practices specified under s. 447.01 (3) (a) to (f) , that are included within the practice of dental hygiene.

(e) Providing for the granting of temporary licenses under this subchapter.

(f) Governing compliance with continuing education requirements under s. 447.056 .

(g) Specifying services, treatments, or procedures, in addition to those specified under s. 447.06 (3) (b) 1. to 27. , that are included within the practice of dental therapy.

(2) The examining board shall promulgate rules specifying all of the following:

(a) The conditions for supervision and the degree of supervision required under ss. 447.03 (3) (a) , (am) , (b) and (d) 2. and 447.065 .

(b) The standards, conditions and any educational requirements that are in addition to the requirements specified in s. 447.04 (1) that must be met by a dentist to be permitted to induce general anesthesia or conscious sedation in connection with the practice of dentistry.

(c) Whether an individual is required to be licensed under this subchapter to remove plaque or materia alba accretions with mechanical devices.

(d) The oral systemic premedications and subgingival sustained release chemotherapeutic agents that may be administered by a dental hygienist under s. 447.06 (2) (e) 1. and 3.

(e) The educational requirements for administration of local anesthesia by a dental hygienist under s. 447.06 (2) (e) 2.

(f) A requirement that a mobile dentistry program registrant establish procedures for a patient treated in the mobile dentistry program to access his or her patient records.

(g) Standards of conduct for the operation of a mobile dentistry program in this state, the provision of dental services through a mobile dentistry program, and the use of portable dental equipment.

(h) A definition of “mobile dentistry program” and the activities that constitute the operation of a mobile dentistry program for purposes of the registration requirement under s. 447.058 .

(i) Provisions implementing s. 447.40 .

(j) The educational requirements for a dental hygienist to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia under s. 447.06 (2) (e) 4.

(3)

(a) The examining board may issue a permit authorizing the practice in this state, without compensation, of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene to an applicant who is licensed to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in another state, if all of the following apply:

1. The examining board determines that the applicant’s services will improve the welfare of Wisconsin residents.

2. The examining board determines that the applicant is qualified and satisfies the criteria specified under s. 447.04 (1) (b) 1. to 3. , except that the examining board may not require the applicant to pass an examination of state statutes and rules relating to dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene.

3. If the applicant is applying for a permit to practice dental therapy, the applicant graduated from a dental therapy education program approved under s. 447.04 (1m) (c) 1. to 3.

(b) A permit under this subsection shall authorize the practice of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in a specified area of the state for a period of time not more than 10 days in a year and may be renewed by the examining board. The examining board may not require an applicant to pay a fee for the issuance or renewal of a permit under this subsection.

(4) In the course of investigating a violation of this subchapter, the examining board may require, by order or subpoena, that a person who manages or controls a business that offers dental or dental hygiene services, including management or control of a business through which the person allows another person to offer dental or dental hygiene services, produce patient health care records, as defined in s. 146.81 (4) .

(5) Except as provided in ss. 447.058 and 447.063 , nothing in this subchapter may be construed as authorizing the examining board to regulate business or administrative support functions or services, that do not constitute the practice of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene, provided to a business that provides dental or dental hygiene services.

(6) The examining board shall send a notice to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register when the board determines that 50 or more individuals are currently licensed as dental therapists in this state under s. 447.04 (1m) . This subsection does not apply on or after January 1, 2030.

History: 1989 a. 349 ; 1997 a. 96 ; 2007 a. 31 ; 2009 a. 10 ; 2013 a. 244 , 345 , 354 ; 2015 a. 195 s. 82 ; 2017 a. 116 ; 2023 a. 87 , 88 ; 2025 a. 128 .