1. (1) Any person licensed to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene pursuant to this article 220 may apply to the board for retired licensure status. The application must be in the form and manner designated by the board. The board may grant retired licensure status by issuing a retired license, or it may deny the application if the licensee has been disciplined for any of the causes set forth in section 12-220-201.

2. (2) Any person applying for a license under this section must:

   1. (a) Provide an affidavit to the board stating that, after a date certain, the applicant will not practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene; will no longer earn income as a dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygiene administrator or consultant; and will not perform any activity that constitutes practicing dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene pursuant to sections 12-220-305, 12-220-501, 12-220-503, 12-220-504, and 12-220-508 unless the applicant is issued a license to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene pursuant to subsection (5) of this section; and
   2. (b) Pay the license fee authorized by section 12-20-105, which fee must not exceed fifty dollars.
3. (3) The retired status of a licensee must be plainly indicated on the face of any retired license certificate issued under this section.
4. (4) The board may take disciplinary action pursuant to sections 12-220-202 to 12-220-206 against any person licensed under this section for an act committed while the person was licensed pursuant to this article 220.
5. (5) Any person licensed under this section may apply to the board for a return to active licensure status by filing an application in the form and manner the board designates, paying the appropriate license fee established pursuant to section 12-20-105, and meeting the financial responsibility requirements or the professional liability insurance requirements established by the board pursuant to sections 12-220-307 and 13-64-301 (1)(a), as applicable. The board may approve the application and issue a license to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene or may deny the application if the licensee has been disciplined for any of the causes set forth in section 12-220-201.
6. (6) A dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist on retired status may provide dental, dental therapy, or dental hygiene services on a voluntary basis to people who are indigent if the retired dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist provides the services on a limited basis and does not charge a fee for the services. A retired dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist providing voluntary care pursuant to this subsection (6) is immune from any liability resulting from the voluntary care the retired dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist provided.

7. (7) The board shall adopt rules that allow expedited, temporary licensure during a disaster emergency declared pursuant to section 24-33.5-704 (4) for a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental therapist who has maintained a license in good standing with no past disciplinary history prior to obtaining an inactive license. The rules must address:

   1. (a) Supervision or practice monitoring requirements;
   2. (b) Liability coverage requirements;
   3. (c) Other conditions of or limitation on practice; and
   4. (d) Temporary license terms, administrative approvals, timelines, and renewal options.

Source: L. 2020: Entire article amended with relocations, (HB 20-1056), ch. 64, p. 250, § 1, effective September 14. L. 2022: (1), (2)(a), (5), and (6) amended, (SB 22-219), ch. 381, p. 2720, § 23, effective January 1, 2023. L. 2025: (7) added, (SB 25-194), ch. 171, p. 702, § 17, effective August 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-220-121 as it existed prior to 2020.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 22-219, see section 1 of chapter 381, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.