§ 43-11-17 — Acts which constitute the practice of dentistry

(a) Except as expressly provided in this chapter, any person who performs any of the following procedures, operations, or services shall be regarded as practicing dentistry within the meaning of this chapter: (1) Operates or performs part of any dental operation of any kind upon the human oral cavity, teeth, gingiva, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or associated structures, or associated contiguous masticatory structures for the treatment of diseases or lesions of such structures; (2) Extracts teeth or attempts to correct a malposition thereof; (3) Fills or crowns a human tooth or teeth; (4) Does any dental operation whatsoever on the human oral cavity, teeth, gingiva, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or associated structures, or associated contiguous masticatory structures; (5) Examines any human oral cavity, teeth, gingiva, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or associated structures, or associated contiguous masticatory structures or takes an impression thereof for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, or operating upon the same; (6) Supplies, makes, fits, repairs, adjusts, or relines, directly for or to an ultimate user of the product in the State of Georgia, any appliance, cap, covering, prosthesis, or cosmetic covering, as defined by rules and regulations established by the board, usable on or as human teeth unless such provision, production, fit, repair, adjustment, or reline of such product is ordered by and returned to a licensed dentist or unless such product is used solely for theatrical purposes as defined by rules and regulations established by the board; (7) Undertakes to do or perform any physical evaluation of a patient in his or her office or in a hospital, clinic, or other medical or dental facility prior to, incident to, and appropriate to the performance of any dental services or oral or maxillofacial surgery; (8) Diagnoses dental radiographs or makes radiographs except for use by a licensed dentist or a licensed physician; or (9) By any means whatsoever makes it known, implies, or holds out to the public in any fashion that such person will do any of the operations, procedures, or services set forth in this subsection. (b) Proof of any one or all of the acts mentioned in this Code section shall constitute prima-facie evidence of the practice of dentistry.

Legislative History

Amended by 2004 Ga. Laws 573, § 2, eff. 7/1/2004.