Source: http://dentisty.org/code-of-alabamaalabama-dental-practice-act.html?page=5
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 06:53:56+00:00

Document:
§ 34-9-19.1. Advertising -- Dental referral service; requirements; prohibitions; penalties.
(1) ADVERTISEMENT. Information communicated in a manner designed to attract public attention to a referral service, participating dentist, or a practice of dentistry.
(2) DENTAL REFERRAL SERVICE. A person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, agent, or employee of any of the foregoing that engages in any business or service for profit that in whole or in part includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a dentist for any form of dental care or treatment.
(3) DENTIST. Any person licensed to practice dentistry or any entity authorized by law which is formed for the purpose of practicing dentistry.
a. One that contains a misrepresentation of fact.
b. One that is likely to mislead or deceive because in context it makes only a partial disclosure of relevant facts.
c. One that is intended or is likely to create a false or unjustified expectation of favorable results.
d. One that implies unusual superior dental ability.
e. One that contains other representations or implications that in reasonable probability will cause an ordinary and prudent person to misunderstand or be deceived.
(5) PARTICIPATING DENTIST. A dentist who has paid a fee to the dental referral service in order to be included on its referral service.
(1) The patient referrals by the dental referral service result from patient-initiated responses to the service's advertising.
(2) The dental referral service discloses to any prospective patient who makes contact with the service that the participating dentists have paid a fee for participation in the service.
(3) The dental referral service does not impose a fee on the participating dentists dependent on the number of referrals or amount of professional fees paid by the patient to the dentist.
(4) Participating dentists charge no more than their usual and customary fees to any patient referred.
e. Name of registered agent or person responsible for the operation of the dental referral service.
f. Listing of other states where the dental referral service is registered.
g. A copy of the standard form contract that regulates its relationship with participating dentists.
(c) Participating dentists shall not enter into a contract or other form or agreement to accept for dental care or treatment a person referred or recommended for the care or treatment by a dental referral service unless the dental referral service meets all the requirements of this section.
(1) The participating dentist of the dental referral service is a dentist who has paid a fee to participate in the service.
(2) The advertisement is paid for by participating dentists.
(3) No representation is made about the quality of the dental services to be performed or the expertise of the participating dentists.
(4) Participating dentists are not more or less qualified than dentists who are not participating in the service.
(1) Advertise or solicit patients in a manner that contains a false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive statement in any material respect.
(2) Publish or circulate, directly or indirectly, any false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive statement as to the skill or methods of practice of any participating dentist.
(3) Contain a statement or make a recommendation that the dental referral service provides referrals to the most qualified dentists or dental practices.
(4) Contain a review process or a screening.
(5) Contain qualifications or information verification that misleads the public into thinking a participating dentist has obtained special recognition or joined a selective group of licensed dentists by being a participating dentist in the dental referral service.
(f) A violation of Sections 34-9-15, 34-9-19, 34-9-28, or this section, including, but not limited to, advertising in any manner which is false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive, shall subject a participating dentist to possible administrative disciplinary actions outlined in Section 34-9-18, after notice and hearing by the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama and the opportunity for judicial review as provided in this article.
§ 34-9-20. Unauthorized advertising, selling, or offering of dental services and appliances; injunctions.
Any person, which word when used in this section shall include all legal entities not licensed to practice dentistry in this state, who shall advertise in any manner to the general public that he or she can or will sell, supply, furnish, construct, reproduce, or repair prostheses (fixed or removable), or other appliances to be used or worn as substitutes for natural teeth, or for the regulation thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the circuit courts shall have jurisdiction to enjoin such person from so doing.
§ 34-9-21. Employing services of commercial dental laboratory or private technician.
(1) The name and address of the commercial dental laboratory or private dental technician.
(2) The patient's name or identification number, and if a number is used the patient's name shall be written upon the duplicate copy of the prescription retained by the dentist.
(3) The date on which the prescription was written.
(4) A description of the work to be done, with diagram if necessary.
(5) A specification of the type and quality of materials to be used.
(6) The signature of the dentist and his or her license number.
(b) Such prescription shall be made in duplicate form. The duplicate copy shall be retained in a permanent file for a period of two years by the dentist, and the original copy shall be retained on a permanent file for a period of two years by the commercial dental laboratory or private technician. Such permanent file of prescriptions to be kept by such dentists, commercial dental laboratory, or private technician shall be open to inspection at any reasonable time by the board or its duly constituted agent. Failure of the dentist, commercial dental laboratory, or private technician to keep such permanent records of prescriptions which are identifiable with each prostheses (fixed or removable), splint, or orthodontic appliance shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this chapter and shall constitute and be punishable as a misdemeanor.
§ 34-9-22. Sale, offer to sell, procurement, or alteration of diploma or certificate; fraud or cheating.
Whoever sells or offers to sell a diploma conferring a dental, dental hygiene, or expanded duty dental assistant degree, or a license certificate or annual registration certificate granted pursuant to this chapter or prior dental act, or procures such diploma or license certificate or annual registration certificate with intent that it shall be used as evidence of the right to practice dentistry or dental hygiene as defined by law, by a person other than the one upon whom it was conferred or to whom such license certificate or annual registration certificate was granted, or with fraudulent intent alters such diploma or license certificate or annual registration certificate, or uses or attempts to use it when it is so altered shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. The board may impose any of the penalties outlined in Section 34-9-18 against any person found guilty of making a false statement or cheating, or of fraud or deception either in applying for a license, a license certificate, or annual registration or in taking any of the examinations provided for herein.
§ 34-9-23. Title and letters signifying degree.
Any licensed dentist of this state being a graduate of a reputable dental school or college recognized by the board shall have the right to use the title "doctor" or abbreviation thereof before his or her name, or appended to his or her name the letters "D.D.S.," "D.M.D.," or equivalent letters signifying the dental degree conferred upon him or her.
§ 34-9-24. Statement of charges and notice of hearing before revocation or suspension of license.
No action to revoke or suspend a license or permit shall be taken until the licensee or permittee has been furnished a statement in writing of the charges against him or her, together with a notice of the time and place of the hearing. The statement of charges and notice shall be served upon the licensee or permittee at least 20 days before the date fixed for hearing, either personally or by registered or certified mail sent to his or her last known physical home or office address or post-office address, or any combination of them.
§ 34-9-25. Judicial review of orders of board.
From any order of the board imposing any of the penalties found in Section 34-9-18, any party affected thereby may bring an action in the circuit courts to set aside the order on the ground that same is unlawful or arbitrary.
§ 34-9-26. Examination, qualifications, licensing, etc., of dental hygienists and expanded duty dental assistants.
(a) No person shall practice as a dental hygienist in this state until such person has passed an examination given by the board or approved by the board, or both, under rules and regulations as the board may promulgate and the payment of a fee. The board shall issue licenses and license certificates as dental hygienists to those persons who have passed the examination and have been found qualified by the board. The license certificate and annual registration certificate shall be displayed in the office in which the dental hygienist is employed. No person shall be entitled to a license and license certificate unless the person is 19 years of age and of good moral character. Each applicant for examination and license as a dental hygienist shall be a graduate of a school of dental hygiene which has been approved by the board, or in lieu thereof, shall have served as a dental assistant for a period of time established by board rule and shall have served at least one year as a dental hygienist trainee under a training permit issued by the board to a qualified dentist practicing in this state in accordance with the dental hygienist training program established by the board. Any person practicing in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the board may impose the penalties outlined in Section 34- 9-18 for such violation.
(b) No person shall practice as an expanded duty dental assistant in this state until such person has passed an examination given by the board or approved by the board, or both, under rules and regulation as the board may promulgate and the payment of a fee. The board shall issue licenses and license certificates as expanded duty dental assistants to those persons who have passed the examination and have been found qualified by the board. The license certificate and annual registration certificate shall be displayed in the office in which the expanded duty dental assistant is employed. No person shall be entitled to a license and license certificate unless the person is 19 years of age and of good moral character. Each applicant for examination and license as an expanded duty dental assistant shall be a graduate of a school of expanded duty dental assisting which has been approved by the board. Any person practicing in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the board may impose the penalties outlined in Section 34- 9-18 for such violation.
§ 34-9-27. Employment, supervision, and practice of dental hygienists and expanded duty dental assistants.
Dental hygienists and expanded duty dental assistants shall work only under the direct supervision of a duly licensed dentist practicing in this state. Dental hygienists and expanded duty dental assistants may perform any duties allowed by rule or regulation of the board and assist a licensed or permitted dentist in his or her practice; however, expanded duty dental assistants may not perform any irreversible procedure, including surgery. Any dental hygienist licensed by the board under this section who has completed the curriculum for dental hygienists at a dental school approved by the board shall have the right to use the title Registered Dental Hygienist or the abbreviation thereof, "R.D.H." appended to his or her name signifying the license conferred. The board may impose any of the penalties outlined in Section 34-9-18 against any dentist who shall permit any dental hygienist or expanded duty dental assistant working under his or her supervision to perform any operation other than those permitted under the provisions of this section, and may impose the penalties outlined in Section 34-9-18 against any dental hygienist or expanded duty dental assistant who shall perform any operation other than those permitted under this section.
§ 34-9-28. Notification of change of address or employer; annual registration requirements..
It shall be the duty of all licensed dental hygienists and expanded duty dental assistants to notify the board, in writing, of any change of address or employer and have issued to them an annual registration certificate by the board. Any dental hygienist or expanded duty dental assistant whose license shall be automatically suspended by reason of failure, neglect, or refusal to secure the annual registration certificate may be reinstated by the board upon payment of the penalty fee plus the current year's registration fee. The form and method provided for in Section 34-9-15 shall apply to the annual registration of dental hygienists.
§ 34-9-29. Injunctions against violations of chapter.
When it appears to the board that any person is violating any of the provisions of this chapter, the board may in its own name bring an action in the circuit court for an injunction, and said court of this state may enjoin any person from violating this chapter regardless of whether proceedings have been or may be instituted before the board or whether criminal proceedings have been or may be instituted. For purposes of this section, person shall be deemed to include any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, professional association, professional corporation or other entity.
(a) In order to accomplish the purposes and to provide for the enforcement of this chapter, there is hereby created the board. The board is hereby vested with the authority to carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of this chapter. On June 24, 1959, the members of the present board now in existence shall hold office for the remainder of their respective terms for which they have been elected and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified and shall constitute the board under this chapter. The board shall consist of six dentists who shall be selected in the method set forth herein all of whom having been actively engaged in the practice of dentistry in the State of Alabama for at least five years next preceding the date of their election and one dental hygienist elected at-large as provided in subsection (b). Each member of the board shall be a citizen of this state. No member of the board shall be a member of the faculty of any dental school, dental college, dental hygiene school, or dental hygiene college or receive any financial benefits for teaching in any dental school, dental college, dental hygiene school, or dental hygiene college or have a financial interest in a commercial dental laboratory or a dental supply business. One member, who is qualified as provided herein, shall be selected by the Alabama Dental Society every five years. As for all elections of members, any group of 10 or more licensed dentists, residing and practicing dentistry in the state, may nominate a candidate for the position of board member by submitting a petition bearing their signatures to the secretary of the board to be postmarked no later than the first day of July in the year of the election. The board shall cause the election ballots to be mailed or published digitally not later than September 1 in the year of the election to all the licensed dentists residing and practicing in the state and currently registered as prescribed by law, along with the annual registration form for the forthcoming fiscal year. Both the annual registration form and fee shall accompany the ballot that shall be postmarked, or otherwise submitted electronically, no later than October 1 to the secretary of the board no later than the first board workday following October 1 each year, ballots being nullified unless accompanied by or electronically filed with completed annual registration form and annual registration fee. Three members of the board shall be present at the time the ballots, digital or physical, are tallied. Any candidate receiving a majority of the votes shall be declared elected to the board and will take the oath of office on or before October 15 in the year of his or her election. In the event no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the board shall conduct a run-off election between the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes. The board shall cause the ballots pertaining to the run-off election to be mailed or digitally published on or before October 31 of the election year to all the licensed dentists who have renewed their licenses for the succeeding year as of October 1 of the current year, are residing and practicing in the state and, currently are registered as prescribed by law, and the ballots pertaining to the run-off election shall be postmarked or digitally published no later than the fourteenth day of November in the year of the run-off election and received, if mailed, by the secretary of the board no later than the first board workday following the fourteenth day of November. All mailed ballots received after this date shall be nullified. In the event of a run-off election, the candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the run-off election shall be declared elected to the board and shall take the oath of office and begin his or her term of office no later than the next scheduled board meeting. Every member elected shall hold office for a period of five years, which terms shall begin immediately upon taking an oath to properly and faithfully discharge the duties of his or her office and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, and the member so elected shall not at the expiration of the term be eligible to succeed himself or herself. The membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state. Except for the board member position selected by the Alabama Dental Society, vacancies on the board shall be filled by the board by the appointment of the immediate past member of the board, and if for any reason the immediate past member of the board is unable to accept the appointment, then the board shall fill the vacancy by appointment of the most recent past board member who is willing to accept the appointment. If no past board member accepts the appointment, then the board may, by majority vote, appoint any licensed dentist qualified under the provisions of this chapter. In the event of a vacancy in the position selected by the Alabama Dental Society, the Alabama Dental Society shall select a dentist who is qualified as provided herein to fill the vacancy. Members of the board shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of the registered dentists in the state for neglect of duty or any just cause, by petition to the secretary of the board by 10 percent of the licensed dentists in the state. On or before July 1, 1962, the board shall send a copy of this section to all licensed dentists in the state.
(b) (1) One member of the board shall be a licensed dental hygienist. The dental hygienist member shall be of good moral and ethical character and shall have been actively engaged in the practice of dental hygiene in the State of Alabama for at least five years preceding the date of election. No dental hygienist member shall be a member of the faculty of any dental school, dental college, dental hygiene school, or dental hygiene college or receive any financial benefits for teaching in any dental school, dental college, dental hygiene school, or dental hygiene college or have a financial interest in a commercial dental laboratory or dental supply business while serving on the board.
a. Any group of 10 or more licensed dental hygienists, residing and practicing dental hygiene in the State of Alabama, may nominate a candidate for the dental hygienist position by submitting a petition bearing their signatures to the secretary of the board no later than the first day of July in the year of an election. The board shall cause election ballots to be mailed or published digitally no later than September 1 in the year of an election to all the licensed dental hygienists residing and practicing in the state and currently registered as prescribed by law. Both the annual registration form and the registration fee shall accompany the ballot that shall be postmarked or otherwise submitted electronically no later than October 1 to the secretary of the board no later than the first board workday following October 1 each year, and the ballots will be nullified unless accompanied by or electronically filed with a completed annual registration form and the annual registration fee.
b. Three members of the board shall be present at the time the ballots, digital or physical, are tallied. Any candidate receiving a majority of the votes shall be declared elected to the board and shall take the oath of office on or before October 15 in the year of his or her election. In the event no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the board shall conduct a run-off election between the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes. The board shall cause the ballots pertaining to any run-off election to be mailed or digitally published on or before October 31 of the election year to all licensed dental hygienists who have renewed their licenses for the succeeding year as of October 1 of the current year, are residing and practicing in the state, and are currently registered as prescribed by law, and the ballots pertaining to the run-off election shall be postmarked or digitally submitted no later than the fourteenth day of November in the year of the run-off election and received, if mailed, by the secretary of the board no later than the first board workday following November 14. All mailed ballots received after November 14 shall be nullified. In the event of a run-off election, the dental hygienist candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the run-off election shall be declared elected to the board and shall take the oath of office and begin his or her term of office no later than the next scheduled board meeting.
c. All elections as described above shall be conducted by the board.
(3) The dental hygienist member shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of the registered dental hygienists in the state for neglect of duty or any just cause by petition to the secretary of the board by 10 percent of the licensed dental hygienists in the state.
(4) The dental hygienist member shall hold that position for a period of five years, which term shall begin immediately upon taking an oath to properly and faithfully discharge the duties of his or her office and continue until his or her successor is elected and qualified, and the member so elected shall not at the expiration of the term be eligible to succeed himself or herself. If a vacancy occurs in the position of dental hygienist, the unexpired term shall be filled by the board by the appointment of the immediate past dental hygienist member. If for any reason the immediate past dental hygienist member is unable to accept the appointment, then the board shall fill the vacancy by a majority vote of the other board members by the appointment of some other past dental hygienist member. If a vacancy occurs and there is not an immediate past dental hygienist member or other past dental hygienist member, the vacancy shall be filled by a unanimous vote of the board by the appointment of some otherwise qualified dental hygienist.
(5) The dental hygienist member shall advise the board on matters relating to dental hygiene and shall only be permitted to vote on matters relating to dental hygiene. The board shall provide the dental hygienist member with timely notice of all board meetings and the dental hygienist member shall be allowed to attend all meetings unless prohibited by law from attendance at any disciplinary hearings. The board shall not adopt any rule relating to the practice of dental hygiene unless the proposed rule has been submitted to the dental hygienist member for review and comment at least 30 days prior to its adoption. The dental hygienist member shall be entitled to the same compensation and expenses paid to dentist members of the board pursuant to Section 34-9-41.
(c) Any dentist or dental hygienist who has been found guilty of violating this chapter or any provision of a dental practice act of any other state and as a result his or her license was revoked, suspended, or placed on probation or who has been convicted of a felony, shall not be eligible for election or membership on the board for a period of five years from the termination of any such revocation, suspension, or probation.

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