Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 150 - RULES OF GEORGIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY › Chapter 150-10 - ADVERTISING › Rule 150-10-.01 - Fraudulent, Misleading or Deceptive Advertising

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) For purposes of O.C.G.A. §
								43-11-47(a)(15),
			 "advertising" shall include any information communicated in a manner designed
			 to attract public attention to the practice of the licensee, including the use
			 of a trade name or corporate name.
(2) A dentist may provide information
			 regarding himself or herself, his or her practice, and fixed fees associated
			 with routine dental services in a dignified manner in newspapers, magazines,
			 yellow page directories, consumer directories, or comparable written
			 publications or broadcast advertising. The dentist shall have ultimate
			 responsibility for all advertisements approved or placed by the dentist or his
			 or her agents, employees, or associates. The dentist shall retain a copy,
			 recording, or specification of the advertisement for at least one year
			 following the last appearance or use of the advertisement, and shall provide a
			 copy, recording, or specification to the Board within ten (10) days of any
			 request by the Board.
(3)
			 Advertising may include, but is not limited to, the following information:
(a) The dentist's title or degree;
(b) A designation of specialty dental
			 practice, if said specialty is recognized by the Georgia Board of Dentistry
			 pursuant to Rule 150- 11-.01 and the dentist has completed the educational
			 requirements stated in the American Dental Association's specialty practice
			 guidelines in existence at the time the advertisement is made;
(c) Office and telephone answering hours,
			 office location, office telephone number, and residence address and telephone
			 number;
(d) Fees for a specific,
			 routine service. For purposes of this Rule, a dental service may be
			 characterized as a "routine dental service" if it is performed frequently in
			 the dentist's practice, is usually provided at a specific fee to substantially
			 all patients receiving the service, and is provided with little or no variance
			 in technique or materials. The following requirements shall be met when a
			 dentist advertises a routine dental service:
1. If a range of fees is advertised
			 (including use of words such as "from," "as low as," "starting at"), the
			 minimum and maximum fees shall be fully disclosed;
2. Consultation, treatment planning, or
			 treatment for any routine dental service advertised for a specific fee must be
			 made available for a minimum of sixty (60) days following the date of the last
			 publication or broadcast of that fee, unless another date is specified in the
			 advertisement;
3. When a routine
			 dental service is advertised as "free," "no charge," or like terms, such
			 service must be made available at no cost for a minimum of sixty (60) days
			 following the date of last publication or broadcast of that fee, unless another
			 date is specified in the advertisement;
4. When a patient accepts the treatment
			 planned for a routine dental service which was advertised by the dentist for a
			 specific fee during the previous sixty (60) days (or other period specified in
			 the advertisement), any subsequent dental service that is reasonably and
			 foreseeably related to the advertised routine service must be provided without
			 additional charge, unless the advertisement for the routine dental service
			 includes the following statement: "ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY BE INCURRED FOR
			 RELATED SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN INDIVIDUAL CASES."