Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 150 - RULES OF GEORGIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY › Chapter 150-11 - SPECIALTIES › Rule 150-11-.01 - Specialties

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) The
			 Georgia Board of Dentistry recognizes twelve (12) specialties of dental
			 practice, which are defined as follows:
(a)
Dental Public Health
: Dental Public Health is the science and art
			 of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health
			 through organized community efforts. It is that form of dental practice that
			 serves the community as a patient rather than the individual. It is concerned
			 with dental health education of the public, which applied dental prevention and
			 control of dental diseases on a community basis. A dentist who represents
			 himself or herself as a "public health dentist," "specialist in dental public
			 health" or similar term has completed the educational requirements stated in
			 the American Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at
			 the time the representation is made.
(b)
Endodontics
: Endodontics is
			 that branch of dentistry that deals with diagnosis and treatment of oral
			 conditions that arise as a result of pathoses of the dental pulp. Its study
			 encompasses related basic and clinical sciences including the biology of the
			 normal pulp and supporting structures, etiology, diagnosis, prevention and
			 treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and periradicular tissues. A
			 dentist who represents himself or herself as an "endodontist," "specialist in
			 endodontics" or similar term, has completed the educational requirements stated
			 in the American Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence
			 at the time representation is made.
(c)
Oral Pathology
: Oral
			 Pathology is that branch of science that deals with the nature of the diseases
			 affecting the oral and adjacent regions, through study of its causes, its
			 processes and its effect, together with the associated alterations of oral
			 structure and function. The practice of oral pathology shall include the
			 development and application of this knowledge through the use of clinical,
			 microscopic, radiograph, biochemical or other such laboratory examinations or
			 procedures as may be required to establish a diagnosis and/or gain other
			 information necessary to maintain the health of the patient, or to correct the
			 result of structural or functional changes produced by alterations from the
			 normal. A dentist who represents himself or herself as an "oral pathologist,"
			 "specialist in oral pathology" or similar term has completed the educational
			 requirements stated in the American Dental Association's specialty practice
			 guidelines in existence at the time the representation is made.
(d)
Oral and Maxillofacial
			 Surgery
: Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry
			 that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases,
			 injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the
			 hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. A dentist who
			 represents himself or herself as an "oral and/or maxillofacial surgeon,"
			 "specialist in oral and/or maxillofacial surgery" or similar term has completed
			 the educational requirements stated in the American Dental Association's
			 specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the representation is
			 made.
(e)
Orthodontics
: Orthodontics is that area of dentistry concerned
			 with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing of mature
			 dentofacial structures, including the conditions that require movement of teeth
			 or correction of malrelationships and malformations of their related structures
			 and the adjustment of relationships between and among teeth and facial bones by
			 the application of forces and/or the stimulation and redirection of functional
			 forces within the craniofacial complex. Major responsibilities of orthodontic
			 practice include the diagnosis, prevention, interception and treatment of all
			 forms of malocclusion of the teeth and associated alterations in their
			 surrounding structures; the design, application and control of functional and
			 corrective appliances; and the guidance of the dentition and its supporting
			 structures to attain and maintain optimum occlusal relations in physiologic and
			 esthetic harmony among facial and cranial structures. A dentist who represents
			 himself or herself as an "orthodontist," "Specialist in orthodontics" or
			 similar term has completed the educational requirements stated in the American
			 Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the
			 representation is made.
(f)
Pediatric Dentistry
: Pediatric Dentistry is the practice and
			 teaching of comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care of
			 children from birth through adolescence. It shall be construed to include care
			 for special patients beyond the age of adolescence who demonstrate mental,
			 physical and/or emotional problems. A dentist who represents himself or herself
			 as a "pediatric dentist," "specialist in pediatric dentistry" or similar term
			 has completed the educational requirements stated in the American Dental
			 Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the
			 representation is made.
(g)
Periodontics
: Periodontics is that branch of dentistry that deals
			 with the diagnosis and treatment of disease of the supporting and surrounding
			 tissues of the teeth. The maintenance of the health of these structures and
			 tissues, achieved through periodontal treatment procedures, is also considered
			 to be the responsibility of the dentist. The scope shall be limited to preclude
			 permanent restorative dentistry. A dentist who represents himself or herself as
			 a "periodontist," "specialist in periodontics" or similar term has completed
			 the educational requirements stated in the American Dental Association's
			 specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the representation is
			 made.
(h)
Prosthodontics
: Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining
			 to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the
			 oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical
			 conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or Maxillofacial
			 tissues using biocompatible substitutes. A dentist who represents himself or
			 herself as a "prosthodontist," "specialist in prosthodontics" or similar term
			 has completed the educational requirements stated in the American Dental
			 Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the
			 representation is made.
(i)
Oral or Maxillofacial Radiology
: Oral and maxillofacial radiology
			 is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the
			 production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities of
			 radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis and management of diseases,
			 disorders, and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region. A dentist who
			 represents himself or herself as a "specialist in oral and maxillofacial
			 radiology" has completed the educational requirements stated in the American
			 Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the
			 representation is made.
(j)
Dental Anesthesiology
: Dental anesthesiology is the specialty of
			 dentistry and discipline of anesthesiology encompassing the art and science of
			 managing pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental, oral,
			 maxillofacial and adjunctive surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the
			 entire perioperative period. The specialty is dedicated to promoting patient
			 safety as well as access to care for all dental patients, including the very
			 young and patients with special health care needs. A dentist who represents
			 himself or herself as a "dental anesthesiologist," "specialist in dental
			 anesthesiology" or similar term has completed the educational requirements
			 stated in the American Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in
			 existence at the time the representation is made.
(k)
Oral Medicine
: Oral Medicine
			 is the specialty of dentistry responsible for the oral health care of medically
			 complex patients and for the diagnosis and management of medically related
			 diseases, disorders and conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region.
			 A dentist who represents himself or herself as a "specialist in oral medicine"
			 or similar term has completed the educational requirements stated in the
			 American Dental Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the
			 time the representation is made.
(l)
Orofacial Pain
: Orofacial
			 Pain is the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the diagnosis, management,
			 and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck. The
			 specialty of Orofacial Pain is dedicated to the evidenced-based understanding
			 of the underlying pathophysiology, etiology, prevention, and treatment of these
			 disorders and improving access to interdisciplinary patient care. A dentist who
			 represents himself or herself as a "specialist in orofacial pain" or similar
			 term has completed the educational requirements stated in the American Dental
			 Association's specialty practice guidelines in existence at the time the
			 representation is made.