S 453 — Teledentistry

      (2)(1) infor connectionthe withpurpose aof publicemergent healthcare; program;

or     (2)  (3)in toconnection makewith an initial diagnosis of a malpositionpublic ofhealth teethprogram; and to determine the need for an orthodontic appliance.

or     (3) to make an initial diagnosis of a malposition of teeth and to determine the need for an orthodontic appliance.

   Section    40-15-540. Section  Prior40-15-540. to the provision of services to a patient through teledentistry, a licensee shall:

 Prior  (1)to confirm the patient'sprovision identity;of services to a patient through teledentistry, a licensee shall:

      (2)(1) if the patient is a minor who is not authorized by law to consent to the services, confirm that the parentpatient's oridentity; legal guardian of the patient is present;

      (3)(2) confirmif that the patient is located in a jurisdictionminor wherewho theis providernot isauthorized licensedby orlaw otherwiseto authorizedconsent to practicethe andservices, documentconfirm that the patient'sparent locationor inlegal guardian of the patient'spatient record;is present;

      (4)(3) obtain:confirm that the patient is located in a jurisdiction where the provider is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice and document the patient's location in the patient's record;

       (4)  (a)obtain: informed written consent that meets the requirements of Section 40-15-580 from a patient who is an adult or a minor authorized by law to provide consent;

or        (a)     (b) informed written consent that meets the requirements of Section 40-15-580 from the parent or guardian of a patient who is aan minoradult andor isa notminor authorized by law to provide consent;

andor          (5)(b) document the informed written consent providedthat pursuantmeets tothe subsectionrequirements (4)of inSection 40-15-580 from the patient'sparent record.or guardian of a patient who is a minor and is not authorized by law to provide consent;

 and  Section    40-15-550. (5)  Priordocument to providing services through teledentistry and upon the requestinformed ofconsent aprovided patientpursuant to whomsubsection services(4) are provided, a licensee or any partnership, corporation, or other entity through which a licensee provides services shall make available to the patient proof of the licensee's identity, the licensee's telephone number, the address at which the licensee practices, the licensee's license number, and any other relevant information concerning the licensee's qualifications and any other licensee who will be involved in providing the servicespatient's throughrecord. teledentistry.

   Section    40-15-560. Section  Informed40-15-550. consent to the provision of services through teledentistry requires the patient or his parent or guardian, as applicable, to be informed of:

 Prior  (1)to providing services through teledentistry and upon the typesrequest of a patient to whom services thatare willprovided, bea providedlicensee or any partnership, corporation, or other entity through teledentistrywhich a licensee provides services shall make available to the patient proof of the licensee's identity, the licensee's telephone number, the address at which the licensee practices, the licensee's license number, and any limitationsother onrelevant information concerning the provisionlicensee's ofqualifications thoseand any other licensee who will be involved in providing the services through teledentistry;teledentistry.

   (2)    the information prescribed by Section 40-15-55040-15-560. for each provider who will provide services through teledentistry;

 Informed  (3)consent precautionsto thatthe willprovision beof takenservices inthrough theteledentistry eventrequires ofthe apatient technologicalor failurehis parent or anguardian, emergency;as applicable, to be informed of:

and     (1)  (4)the types of services that will be provided through teledentistry and any otherlimitations informationon prescribedthe byprovision regulation.of those services through teledentistry;

      Section(2) 40-15-570. the  Exceptinformation inprescribed situationsby requiringSection emergency40-15-550 treatment,for aeach dentistprovider ofwho recordwill isprovide requiredservices for all patients being treated through teledentistry.teledentistry;

    (3) precautions that will be taken in the event of a technological failure or an emergency;

and     (4) any other information prescribed by regulation.

      Section 40-15-570.

Except in situations requiring emergency treatment, a dentist of record is required for all patients being treated through teledentistry.

   Section    40-15-580. Section  An40-15-580. advertisement of dental services provided through teledentistry must include a disclaimer that reads, in a clearly legible font and size, "An in-person examination with a dentist licensed under Title 40 Chapter 15 of the South Carolina Code of Laws is recommended before beginning telehealth treatment in order to prevent injury or harm" for services involving:

 An  (1)advertisement theof takingdental ofservices anprovided impressionthrough orteledentistry themust digitalinclude scanninga disclaimer that reads, in a clearly legible font and size, "An in-person examination with a dentist licensed under Title 40 Chapter 15 of the humanSouth tooth,Carolina teeth,Code orof jaws,Laws directlyis orrecommended indirectlybefore andbeginning bytelehealth anytreatment meansin order to prevent injury or method;harm" for services involving:

      (2)(1) furnishing,the supplying,taking constructing,of reproducing,an impression or repairingthe anydigital prostheticscanning denture,of bridge,the orhuman appliancetooth, teeth, or anyjaws, otherdirectly structureor designedindirectly toand beby wornany inmeans theor humanmethod; mouth;

      (3)(2) placingfurnishing, ansupplying, applianceconstructing, reproducing, or structurerepairing inany theprosthetic humandenture, mouthbridge, or adjustingappliance or attemptingany other structure designed to adjustbe theworn appliancein orthe structure;human mouth;

    (3) placing an appliance or  structure  (4)in correctingthe human mouth or adjusting or attempting to correctadjust malformationsthe ofappliance teeth or jaws.structure;

 or  Section    40-15-590. (4)  Acorrecting dentistor mayattempting only delegate tasks to auxiliaries,correct including,malformations butof notteeth limitedor to,jaws. dental hygienists and dental assistants, to the extent permitted by law, including the Dental Practice Act.

   Section    40-15-600. Section  A40-15-590. licensee who provides services through teledentistry shall refer a patient to the emergency department of a hospital or another licensee of acute care in an emergency or any other situation where the provision of acute care is necessary to protect the health and safety of the patient.

 A  Sectiondentist 40-15-610. may  Theonly boarddelegate shalltasks adoptto regulationsauxiliaries, governingincluding, thebut provisionnot oflimited to, dental serviceshygienists throughand teledentistry.dental assistants, to the extent permitted by law, including the Dental Practice Act.

   Section    40-15-620. Section  It40-15-600. shall be considered unprofessional conduct for a licensee to require a patient to enter into an agreement that restricts the ability of the patient to submit a complaint to the board, file a lawsuit, join a class action lawsuit, make reports to any governmental entity, require the patient to submit to binding arbitration, or otherwise limit or prohibit the patient from obtaining relief for deficiencies in the treatment or services they have received.

SECTIONA 2. licensee  Ifwho anyprovides provisionsservices withinthrough thisteledentistry actshall conflictrefer witha Titlepatient 40to ofthe Chapteremergency 42department of thea Southhospital Carolinaor Codeanother licensee of Lawsacute ("Telehealthcare andin Telemedicinean Modernizationemergency Act"),or thenany thisother actsituation shallwhere govern,the asprovision itof relatesacute care is necessary to dentalprotect licensees.the health and safety of the patient.

SECTION  3.      ThisSection act40-15-610. takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----The Thisboard webshall pageadopt wasregulations lastgoverning updatedthe onprovision Februaryof 05,dental 2026services atthrough 02:40teledentistry. PM

      Section 40-15-620.

It shall be considered unprofessional conduct for a licensee to require a patient to enter into an agreement that restricts the ability of the patient to submit a complaint to the board, file a lawsuit, join a class action lawsuit, make reports to any governmental entity, require the patient to submit to binding arbitration, or otherwise limit or prohibit the patient from obtaining relief for deficiencies in the treatment or services they have received.

  SECTION 2.  If any provisions within this act conflict with Title 40 of Chapter 42 of the South Carolina Code of Laws ("Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act"), then this act shall govern, as it relates to dental licensees.

  SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX---- This web page was last updated on March 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM