Title 54 — PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

54-900. Purpose. Recognizing that the practice of dentistry, dental therapy, and dental hygiene is a privilege granted by the state of Idaho and is not a natural right of individuals, the purpose of this chapter is to assure the public health, safety and welfare in the state by t…

54-901. Definition — Practice of dentistry. The practice of dentistry is the doing by one (1) person, for a direct or indirect consideration, of one or more of the following with respect to the teeth, gums, alveolar process, jaws, or adjacent tissues of another person, namely: Ex…

54-902. Definition — Practice of dental hygiene. The practice of dental hygiene is the doing by one (1) person for a direct or indirect consideration of one (1) or more of the following with respect to the teeth or dental health of another person, namely, cleaning, polishing, rem…

54-902A. DEFINITION — PRACTICE OF DENTAL THERAPY. The practice of dental therapy is the doing by one (1) person for a direct or indirect consideration of one (1) or more of the following with respect to the teeth or dental health of another person, namely, identifying oral and sy…

54-903. General definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Association" means the Idaho state dental association and the Idaho dental hygienists’ association. (2) "Board" means the state board of dentistry. (3) "Conviction" or "convicted" means a finding of guilt by a judge or ju…

54-904. Authorization for procedures performed under general supervision by dental hygienists. A dental hygienist is authorized to practice under general supervision when: (1) In a dental office where the dental hygienist works, a dentist has diagnosed the condition to be treated…

54-905. Unlawful practice of dentistry. (1) Any person who shall practice, or shall in any manner hold himself out to any other person, or to the public, as qualified or licensed to practice dentistry, or who represents himself to be a dentist, within the state of Idaho, without …

54-906. Unlawful practice of dental hygiene. (1) Any person, not a dentist, who shall practice, or shall in any manner hold himself out to any other person, or to the public, as qualified or licensed to practice dental hygiene within the state of Idaho without at the time being a…

54-906A. UNLAWFUL PRACTICE OF DENTAL THERAPY. (1) Any person, not a dentist, who shall practice or in any manner hold himself out to any other person or to the public as qualified or licensed to practice dental therapy within the state of Idaho without at the time being a license…

54-907. State board of dentistry established. There is hereby established in the division of occupational and professional licenses a state board of dentistry to be composed of eight (8) members, five (5) of whom shall be dentists, two (2) of whom shall be dental hygienists, and …

54-908. State board of dentistry — vacancies. (1) The governor may consider recommendations for appointment to the board from the Idaho state dental association and from any individual residing in this state. For the purposes of nominations and appointments, the state shall be di…

54-909. Board of dentistry — Qualifications of members. Each dentist and each dental hygienist member of the board shall hold a current, active Idaho license and shall be a resident of the state of Idaho. The consumer member of the board must be a resident of the state of Idaho a…

54-910. occupational licenses fund — RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. All fees, charges, and fines received by the board under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the occupational licenses fund, and all costs and expenses incurred b…

54-911. Board of dentistry — Organization — Meetings — Expenses — Per diem. The board of dentistry shall select from its dentist members a chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The board may meet at stated times and shall meet upon the call of its chairman or a m…

54-912. Board of dentistry — Powers and duties. The board shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To ascertain the qualifications and fitness of applicants to practice dentistry, a dental specialty, dental therapy, or dental hygiene; to prepare, conduct and grade qualifyi…

54-913. Certificates — Licenses — Records. (1) All certificates of qualification to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene, and all licenses shall be issued by the board in the name of the board, with the seal attached. (2) The board shall keep a record of all appl…

54-915. Qualifications required for dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist licensure. No person hereafter shall be eligible for licensure to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in this state unless the applicant: (1) Has not been convicted, found guilty,…

54-916. Application for licensure — Fee. Any person desiring to practice dentistry, a dental specialty, dental therapy, or dental hygiene within the state of Idaho shall make an application for licensure in dentistry, a dental specialty, dental therapy, or dental hygiene, as the …

54-916A. Dental hygiene licensure by credentials. The board may issue a license to practice dental hygiene without further examination to an applicant upon evidence that: (1) The applicant currently holds an active license in good standing to practice dental hygiene in another st…

54-916B. Dental licensure by credentials. The board may issue a license to practice dentistry without further examination upon evidence that: (1) The applicant currently holds an active license in good standing to practice dentistry in another state with no disciplinary proceedin…

54-916C. DENTAL THERAPY LICENSURE BY CREDENTIALS. The board may issue a license to practice dental therapy without further examination to an applicant upon evidence that: (1) The applicant currently holds an active license in good standing to practice dental therapy in another st…

54-918. Examinations — Certificate of qualification. (1) An applicant for licensure shall pass such examinations in dentistry, in dental therapy, and in dental hygiene as are conducted by the board or its agent. Examinations shall be written or clinical, or both, and upon such su…

54-919. Cheating. In the event the board finds prior to the issuance of a certificate of qualification that an applicant, whether or not receiving a passing grade in the examination, has made any false statement with intent to mislead or deceive the board or its members in or in …

54-920. Licensing — License fees — Biennial renewal of licenses — Late fees and returned checks — Classifications of licenses — Rights of licensees — Notification of change of address. (1) Each person determined by the board as qualified for licensure under this chapter shall pay…

54-921. Reinstatement of canceled license. (1) A license that has been canceled for less than two (2) years may be reinstated by submitting all required application and license fees and submitting evidence of completion of all required continuing education hours. (2) A license th…

54-922. Display of license. No person shall practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene unless he either has on display in his office an unrevoked and unsuspended license for the time period in which he shall practice or has the same immediately producible upon request.

54-923. Revocation for convictions of crime. A certificate or other evidence of qualification and right to practice dentistry, a dental specialty, dental therapy, or dental hygiene, and a license, may be revoked by the board whenever it shall be shown to the board that the holder…

54-924. Other grounds of refusal, revocation or suspension of dentists — Probation agreements. The board may refuse to issue or renew a dental license or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand or take other disciplinary action with respect to a dental license as the b…

54-925. Other grounds of revocation or suspension of dental hygienists — Probation agreements. The certificate or other evidence of qualification, and the right to practice dental hygiene and the license of any dental hygienist may be revoked, suspended or otherwise conditioned b…

54-926. OTHER GROUNDS OF REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF DENTAL THERAPISTS — PROBATION AGREEMENTS. The certificate or other evidence of qualification, and the right to practice dental therapy and the license of any dental therapist, may be revoked, suspended, or otherwise conditioned…

54-930. Exceptions to application of act. This act shall not be construed as prohibiting a physician or surgeon, duly authorized to practice as such in this state, from treating diseases of the mouth or performing operations in oral surgery; nor as prohibiting persons authorized …

54-933. Injunction — Procedure. The board or any resident citizen may maintain an action in equity in the name of the state of Idaho to perpetually enjoin any person from persisting in the doing of any acts constituting a violation of this act. Such action shall be brought in the…

54-934. Peer review committees — Immunity from liability — Confidentiality of records. (1) The state board of dentistry or the Idaho state dental association or both may establish one (1) or more peer review committees pursuant to this section, for the purpose of: (a) Determining…

54-935. Volunteer’s license — Qualifications — Permissible practice — Immunity from liability. (1) Upon application and qualification, the board may issue, without examination, a volunteer’s license to a dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist who is retired from the activ…

54-936. Continued operation of dental practice — Death of sole proprietor dentist. In the case of the death of a sole proprietor dentist, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as prohibiting the personal representative, executor, surviving spouse or surviving heir…