IllinoisIllinois law lets dentists provide some care through remote visits
Illinois law allows remote dental screenings and some first exams, while requiring in-person exams for certain treatments and higher-risk care.
What it does
Illinois-licensed dentists may use remote visits for some screenings, consultations, and first exams, but certain treatments and higher-risk care require an in-person exam.
After emergency care, an initial screening, or a remote exam, dentists must direct patients to appropriate in-person care.
Before remote care, dentists must get and record patient consent and explain its limits; providers must share contact details and cannot require patients to give up review or complaint rights.
With a dentist's live remote exam and approval, hygienists may provide limited services, including cleanings, fluoride treatment, and ordered X-rays; remote cleanings are capped at two before an in-person dentist exam.
Argument forRemote screening and some first visits could help patients get advice about urgent pain or other serious dental problems without first traveling to an office.
Argument againstRequired in-person follow-up and exams for some treatments could make care harder to reach for patients who have trouble traveling.
More detail
Illinois-licensed dentists may use teledentistry for specified screenings, consultations, and initial examinations. These provisions cover patients receiving teledentistry from Illinois-licensed dentists; some first exams for new patients may be remote if the dentist reviews their history and verifies their identity and location in Illinois. Remote first exams are not allowed for orthodontic, sleep apnea, or snoring care, or for functional or cosmetic tooth replacement or treatment. An in-person exam must happen immediately before care that cannot be reversed or that otherwise raises risk to the patient. For ongoing dentist-patient relationships, dentists must direct patients to be seen in person at least once a year.
Dentists must direct patients to appropriate in-person care after specified remote services. This applies to patients who receive teledentistry care or screening under this section. The direction applies after emergency care, an initial screening, or a teledentistry examination.
Dentists must obtain and document consent, explain remote care's limits, and provide contact details; providers cannot require patients to give up review or complaint rights. These provisions apply to dentists and dental hygienists providing teledentistry services. Before remote care, dentists must explain its alternatives, capabilities, and limits, including that it is not equivalent to an in-person exam and the dentist is not physically present. Providers must give patients their names, direct phone numbers, and physical practice addresses.
Dental hygienists may provide specified services remotely only with dentist supervision and authorization. This covers licensed dental hygienists providing services to patients of record; allowed services include cleanings, fluoride treatment, and X-rays ordered by the supervising dentist. A dentist must examine, diagnose, and authorize the procedures using real-time communication. Hygienists may perform no more than two remote cleanings before an in-person dentist exam and may not use local anesthetics or nitrous oxide during those cleanings.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 21Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0845Latest
- Aug 21Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Aug 21Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 29Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 31Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 31Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 116-000-001Passed House
- May 31Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 22Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
- May 21Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 21Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 21Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee; 015-000-000
- May 21Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 072-038-000
- May 21Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Health Care Licenses Committee; Rep. Ann M. Williams
- May 21Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
- May 21Committee/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2026
- May 21Assigned to Health Care Licenses CommitteeMinor
- May 21Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman
- May 20Referred to Rules Committee
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20First ReadingMinor
- May 20Chief House Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita
- May 20Arrived in HouseMinor
- May 20Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss
- May 20Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
- May 20Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000Passed Senate
- May 15Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane L. Johnson
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Patrick J. Joyce
- May 14Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler
- May 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 13Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Do Pass as Amended Licensed Activities; 007-000-000
- May 13Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- May 6Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Licensed Activities
- May 5Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- May 5Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. HastingsMinor
- May 5Re-assigned to Licensed ActivitiesMinor
- May 5Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
- Apr 24Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
- Mar 27Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 24, 2026
- Mar 25Postponed - Licensed Activities
- Mar 13Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As March 27, 2026
- Mar 10Assigned to Licensed ActivitiesMinor
- Feb 2Referred to Assignments
- Feb 2First ReadingMinor
- Feb 2Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. HastingsIntroduced
Healthcare