BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1117
89R5465 JTZ-F	By: Schwertner
	Business & Commerce
	4/22/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Dental Practice Act does not explicitly address facial cosmetic surgery or treatment. However, it defines the scope of dentistry as being limited to "human teeth, oral cavity, alveolar process, gums, jaws, or directly related and adjacent masticatory structures." For dentists with a recognized specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery, this scope is expanded to include "the diagnosis of and the surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region."

All Texas-licensed dentists receive extensive training in injection techniques and safety protocols as part of their dental education. Under current law, they are authorized to administer neuromodulators such as Botox, or a biosimilar or bioequivalent neuromodulator, for therapeutic purposes. However, the administration of neuromodulators containing botulinum toxin (or a biosimilar or bioequivalent neuromodulator) for purely aesthetic purposes is restricted to dentists who specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgery, as defined in the Texas Occupations Code.

S.B. 1117 seeks to authorize any Texas-licensed dentist to administer a neuromodulator containing botulinum toxin (or a biosimilar or bioequivalent) to a patient's oral and maxillofacial regions for aesthetic purposes, provided the dentist has completed training approved by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners on neuromodulator administration.

As proposed, S.B. 1117 amends current law relating to the administration of botulinum toxin by dentists.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Dental Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 258.0531, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 258, Occupations Code, by adding Section 258.0531, as follows:

Sec. 258.0531. USE OF BOTULINUM TOXIN. (a) Authorizes a dentist, for aesthetic purposes, to administer to a patient's oral and maxillofacial regions a neuromodulator containing botulinum toxin or a biosimilar or bioequivalent neuromodulator only if the dentist has completed a course of training approved by the State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) on the administration of the neuromodulator.

(b) Requires TSBDE to adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Requires TSBDE, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt the rules required by Section 258.0531, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.