NC S146

Establishes standards for teledentistry practice by licensed dentists and dental hygienists, including requirements for patient informed consent, confidentiality, secure electronic communications, and patient record documentation.

Authorizes registered dental hygienists certified through approved training programs to administer local anesthetics under direct supervision of a licensed dentist, requiring minimum 16 didactic hours and 14 clinical hours of training.

Allows certain experienced dental hygienists with 3+ years of clinical experience or 2,000+ hours of practice to perform dental hygiene functions without direct dentist supervision in specified settings (nursing homes, schools, health centers, rural clinics) based on written standing orders rather than in-person evaluation.

Permits dentists with current instructor licenses or advanced dental education from Commission on Dental Accreditation programs to obtain licensure by credentials without additional examination requirements.

Adds East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine representatives to peer review organizations and boards overseeing impaired dentists and dental hygienists; effective October 1, 2021 for dental hygienist provisions.