Opinion ID: 2601652
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The term practice of dentistry should be given its common industry definition.

Text: Ingrim argues that the practice of dentistry should be interpreted as private, competitive, fee-for-service practice, which would exclude his employment at ANMC. The superior court agreed, holding as a matter of law that practice of dentistry, as used in Section 13(a), does not include employment at ANMC and thus Ingrim's employment at ANMC does not violate Section 13(a). This holding was in error. We have stated the general rule of law that a contract may be interpreted by the general and accepted usage of the trade or business involved. [10] Thus, the term practice of dentistry should be given its common industry definition. The American Dental Association defines dentistry as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. We conclude that this is the proper definition of practice of dentistry as used in Section 13(a). [11] The superior court relied on AS 08.36.350 in finding, as does Ingrim in arguing, that the practice of dentistry excludes employment at ANMC. Alaska Statute 08.36.350(a) provides that the statutory chapter on dentistry applies to a person who practices ... dentistry in the state except ... a dentist in the employ ... of the Alaska Native Service. As an initial matter, this statutory provision was not explicitly or implicitly incorporated into the parties' Purchase and Sale Agreement. There is no evidence in the record that Ingrim and Wenzell's understanding of the meaning of practice of dentistry was influenced by this statute, or even that they were familiar with the statute at the time of contracting. In any event, we interpret AS 08.36.350(a) differently than Ingrim and the superior court. The statutory provision does not suggest that a dentist at ANMC is not engaging in the practice of dentistry; instead, it exempts an Alaska Native Service dentist from all provisions of the chapter on dentistry, including licensing requirements, disciplinary actions, and statutory definitions. It is precisely because a dentist in the employ of the ... Alaska Native Service is practicing dentistry that it is necessary to exempt him or her from the otherwise applicable statutory provisions. [12] Relying on the expert testimony of Dr. Pollock, Ingrim also argues that the private practice of dentistry excludes employment at ANMC because such employment instead constitutes `community' dental services. Even assuming this to be true, it is not relevant here  Section 13(a) prohibits the practice of dentistry, not the private practice of dentistry. Dr. Pollock did not clearly testify that the practice of dentistry excludes community dentistry. [13]