(A) There is created the State Board of Dentistry (board) to be composed of eleven members, one of whom shall be a lay member from the State at large, one of whom shall be a dentist from the State at large, one of whom shall be a dental hygienist from the State at large, one of whom shall be a dental hygienist from the State at large nominated pursuant to subsection (C) and seven of whom shall be dentists representing each congressional district. Dentists shall be licensed, practicing dentists and residents of the State and of the congressional district which they represent. The dental hygienists shall be licensed, practicing dental hygienists and residents of the State. The terms of the members shall be for six years and until successors are appointed and qualify. No member shall be allowed successive terms of office.
(B) The dentist at large, a dental hygienist at large and lay member shall be appointed by the Governor. All appointments to the board of the seven members of the board representing the congressional districts shall be made upon the recommendation of the board, which recommendation shall be based upon an annual election conducted by the board. This election shall be conducted on a rotating basis in the seven congressional districts in numerical order so that each year the licensed dentists residing in the subject district shall elect from among themselves a member of the board. The board at its regular annual meeting shall certify in writing to the Governor the name of the person winning the election and the name of the person the nominee replaces on the board. The Governor may reject any or all of the nominees upon satisfactory showing as to the unfitness of those rejected. If the Governor declines to appoint any of such nominees so submitted, additional nominees shall be submitted in the same manner. Vacancies shall be filled in a like manner by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term.
(C) The board shall conduct an election to nominate a dental hygienist when such seat shall be vacant. This election shall provide for participation by all dental hygienists currently licensed and residing in South Carolina. The name of the nominee shall be forwarded to the Governor for appointment. The Governor may reject the nominee upon satisfactory showing as to the unfitness of the nominee. If the Governor declines to appoint any nominee so submitted, additional nominees shall be submitted in the same manner. Vacancies shall be filled in a like manner by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term. No person shall be eligible for appointment who has a financial interest or serves as an officer in a business organized under the laws of this State to sell dental supplies, equipment, or appurtenances or who is officially connected with a school of dentistry or dental hygiene.
(D) Vacancies shall be filled in a like manner by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term.
(E) All members of the board have full voting rights except that the lay member is exempt from voting on examinations for licensure and the dental hygienists are exempt from voting on examination for licensure for dentists.
(F) The Governor may remove any member of the board who has been guilty of continued neglect of his duties or who is found to be incompetent, unprofessional, or dishonorable. No member shall be removed without first giving him an opportunity to refute the charges filed against him. He shall be given a copy of the charges at the time they are filed.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 56-636.2; 1952 Code Sections 56-511, 56-512; 1942 Code Sections 5196, 5214, 5216; 1932 Code Sections 5196, 5214, 5216; 1922 (32) 844; 1934 (38) 1458; 1936 (39) 1364; 1938 (40) 1555; 1946 (44) 1553; 1964 (53) 2145; 1968 (55) 2502; 1981 Act No. 117, Sections 2, 3; 1982 Act No. 432, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 439, Section 2; 2012 Act No. 222, Section 4, eff June 7, 2012.
Editor's Note
2012 Act No. 222, Section 15, provides as follows:
"SECTION 15. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person elected or appointed to serve, or serving, as a member of any board, commission, or committee to represent a congressional district, whose residency is transferred to another district by a change in the composition of the district, may serve, or continue to serve, the term of office for which he was elected or appointed; however, the appointing or electing authority shall appoint or elect an additional member on that board, commission, or committee from the district which loses a resident member on it as a result of the transfer to serve until the term of the transferred member expires. When a vacancy occurs in the district to which a member has been transferred, the vacancy must not be filled until the full term of the transferred member expires."
Effect of Amendment
The 2012 amendment rewrote the section.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 15 - Dentists, Dental Hygienists, And Dental Technicians
Section 40-15-10. State Board of Dentistry created.
Section 40-15-20. Membership of board; appointment, terms, elections, vacancies, and removal.
Section 40-15-30. Meetings of Board; officers; quorum; minutes.
Section 40-15-60. Immunity of board members, officers, and employees for official acts; seal.
Section 40-15-70. "Practice of dentistry" defined.
Section 40-15-80. Practicing dental hygiene.
Section 40-15-82. Procedures prohibited from delegation to dental hygienists.
Section 40-15-83. Patient recordkeeping requirements; penalty.
Section 40-15-85. Definitions.
Section 40-15-90. "Dental technological work" defined.
Section 40-15-95. "Orthodontic technological work" defined.
Section 40-15-100. Unlawful to practice dentistry without license.
Section 40-15-105. Administration of certain anesthetic by dental hygienist or dental assistant.
Section 40-15-110. Exemptions from chapter.
Section 40-15-135. Certain dental services to be performed only by licensed dentist.
Section 40-15-150. Filing false affidavit or diploma; misrepresentation or concealment.
Section 40-15-170. Reregistration; effect of foreign revocations.
Section 40-15-175. Restricted instructor's licenses; limitations; renewal and revocation.
Section 40-15-176. Restricted dental auxiliary instructor's licenses.
Section 40-15-177. Restricted volunteer license for certain dentists and dental hygienists.
Section 40-15-185. Administration of oaths; subpoena power.
Section 40-15-190. Grounds for discipline of dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician.
Section 40-15-200. Disciplinary action by board; judicial review.
Section 40-15-210. Appeal from suspension or revocation.
Section 40-15-220. License to practice specialty.
Section 40-15-240. Application for license to practice specialty.
Section 40-15-250. Examinations for licensing as specialists.
Section 40-15-260. Issuance, recording, and reregistration of license to practice speciality.
Section 40-15-265. Intern or resident authorized to provide treatment under supervision.
Section 40-15-270. Reciprocity for dentists and dental hygienists licensed in other states.
Section 40-15-275. License by credentials; requirements.
Section 40-15-280. "Prescription" defined; form and contents of prescription.
Section 40-15-310. Subwork authorizations for subcontractors.
Section 40-15-360. Pharmacists permitted to fill prescriptions of licensed dentists.
Section 40-15-370. Injunctions; Office of Attorney General as representative of board.
Section 40-15-380. Jurisdiction of Administrative Law Court to enjoin violators of chapter.
Section 40-15-400. Permits; applications; fees.
Section 40-15-410. Requirements for sedation permit.
Section 40-15-430. Presence of trained personnel required; recovery and discharge.