ADSO Welcomes Colorado Dental Board Vote to Stay Rule 1.7

Posted: August 25, 2026

Edited by Dentaltown staff

DENVER—The Association of Dental Support Organizations said it welcomes the Colorado Dental Board’s vote to temporarily stay enforcement of Rule 1.7, which restricts how dentists and dental support organizations can work together.

The rule bars DSOs from leasing office space or equipment to the practices they support and requires disclosure of financial and business records with no stated limit on scope or frequency. The ADSO said it also exposes dentists and hygienists to potential board discipline for practicing in a DSO-supported setting.

Rule 1.7 was adopted earlier this year under the board’s rulemaking authority following the 2025 Dental Practice Act Sunset Bill (SB25-194). The stay follows a legal challenge the ADSO filed with the Colorado Court of Appeals, arguing the board overstepped its authority in the rulemaking.

“This much-needed pause will allow the courts to consider the rule’s validity and give the Board time to work with Colorado dentists and patients to ensure any final rule protects access to care without imposing undue compliance burdens on the practices working to provide it,” said ADSO CEO Andrew Smith.

The association said 1.2 million Colorado residents live in dental health professional shortage areas, and that DSO-supported practices accept Medicaid at higher rates than solo practices, 53 percent versus 40 percent.

For more information, visit theadso.org.

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