Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 18.32 - Dentistry.
18.32.020 - Practice of dentistry defined.

RCW 18.32.020
Practice of dentistry defined.

A person practices dentistry, within the meaning of this chapter, who (1) represents himself or herself as being able to diagnose, treat, remove stains and concretions from teeth, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity, or physical condition of the human teeth, alveolar process, gums, or jaw, or (2) offers or undertakes by any means or methods to diagnose, treat, remove stains or concretions from teeth, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity, or physical condition of the same, or take impressions of the teeth or jaw, or (3) owns, maintains, or operates an office for the practice of dentistry, or (4) engages in any of the practices included in the curricula of recognized and approved dental schools or colleges, or (5) professes to the public by any method to furnish, supply, construct, reproduce, or repair any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance, or other structure to be worn in the human mouth.
The fact that a person uses any dental degree, or designation, or any card, device, directory, poster, sign, or other media whereby he or she represents himself or herself to be a dentist, shall be prima facie evidence that such person is engaged in the practice of dentistry.
X-ray diagnosis as to the method of dental practice in which the diagnosis and examination is made of the normal and abnormal structures, parts, or functions of the human teeth, the alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or soft tissues adjacent thereto, is hereby declared to be the practice of dentistry. Any person other than a regularly licensed physician or surgeon who makes any diagnosis or interpretation or explanation, or attempts to diagnose or to make any interpretation or explanation of the registered shadow or shadows of any part of the human teeth, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or soft tissues adjacent thereto by the use of X-ray is declared to be engaged in the practice of dentistry, medicine, or surgery.
The practice of dentistry includes the performance of any dental or oral and maxillofacial surgery. "Oral and maxillofacial surgery" means the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.

[ 2011 c 336 § 477; 1996 c 259 § 1; 1957 c 98 § 1; 1957 c 52 § 20. Prior: (i) 1935 c 112 § 6; RRS § 10031-6. (ii) 1943 c 240 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10031-6a.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 18 - Businesses and Professions

Chapter 18.32 - Dentistry.

18.32.002 - Findings—Purpose.

18.32.005 - Regulation of health care professions—Criteria.

18.32.010 - Words defined.

18.32.020 - Practice of dentistry defined.

18.32.030 - Exemptions from chapter.

18.32.0351 - Commission established—Membership.

18.32.0353 - Commission—Removal of member—Order of removal—Vacancy.

18.32.0355 - Commission—Qualifications of members.

18.32.0357 - Commission—Duties and powers—Attorney general to advise, represent.

18.32.0358 - Commission successor to other boards.

18.32.0361 - Compensation of commission members.

18.32.0363 - Examinations—Contracts for administration—Multistate.

18.32.0365 - Rules.

18.32.039 - Application of uniform disciplinary act.

18.32.040 - Requirements for licensure.

18.32.050 - Compensation and reimbursement for administering examination.

18.32.091 - License required.

18.32.100 - Applications.

18.32.110 - Application fee.

18.32.160 - Licenses—Who shall sign.

18.32.170 - Duplicate licenses—Fee.

18.32.180 - License renewal.

18.32.185 - Inactive license status.

18.32.190 - Licenses display—Notification of address.

18.32.195 - University of Washington dental school faculty and residents—Licenses.

18.32.215 - Licensure without examination—Licensed in another state.

18.32.220 - Certificate available for dentists going out-of-state.

18.32.222 - Commission report—Foreign-trained dentists—Licensure.

18.32.226 - Community-based sealant programs in schools.

18.32.390 - Penalty—General.

18.32.530 - "Unprofessional conduct."

18.32.533 - Unprofessional conduct—Abrogation of copayment provisions.

18.32.534 - Dentist health program—Content—License surcharge.

18.32.640 - Rules—Administration of sedation and general anesthesia.

18.32.655 - Commission—Supervision of records—Rules.

18.32.665 - Advertising—False—Credit terms.

18.32.675 - Practice or solicitation by corporations prohibited—Penalty.

18.32.677 - Interference with licensee's independent clinical judgment.

18.32.683 - Patient abandonment.

18.32.685 - Prescriptions—Filled by druggists.

18.32.695 - Identification of new dental prostheses.

18.32.705 - Identification of previously fabricated prostheses.

18.32.715 - Identification of dental prostheses—Violation.

18.32.725 - Sanitary regulations.

18.32.735 - Unlawful practice—Hygienists—Penalty.

18.32.745 - Unlawful practice—Employing unlicensed dentist—Penalty.

18.32.755 - Advertising—Names used—Penalty.

18.32.765 - Pilot project—Commission—Authority over budget.

18.32.775 - Disciplinary proceedings—Cost and fee recovery.

18.32.785 - Pain management rules—Criteria for new rules.

18.32.800 - Opioid drug prescribing rules—Adoption.

18.32.810 - Opioid drugs—Right to refuse.