The bill amends the Public Health Code to establish a framework for issuing health profession specialty field licenses to dentists who have completed advanced training and demonstrated competency in specific dental specialties. These specialties include prosthodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, oral pathology, and, starting September 1, 2022, additional fields such as oral medicine, orofacial pain, dental public health, oral and maxillofacial radiology, and dental anesthesiology. Dentists who held specialty certifications as of December 23, 2002, are automatically considered to hold the corresponding specialty field licenses and can renew them upon expiration.

Additionally, the bill introduces new prohibitions for dentists who do not possess a health profession specialty field license. These dentists are barred from representing themselves as dental specialists, advertising specialties for which they lack a license, or promoting services in a way that misleads the public about their qualifications. The bill clarifies that it is not a valid defense against these prohibitions if the dentist does not use a protected title or provides a disclaimer regarding their licensing status. The amendments will take effect only if House Bill No. 4594 is also enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-2): 333.16608
Substitute (H-4): 333.16608
House Introduced Bill: 333.16608
As Passed by the House: 333.16608