GDA Action October 2021

October 2021 • 9 Q: Is there a law or Board of Dentistry rule requiring that a patient’s name be marked on a denture a dentist or lab makes for a patient? Yes, but it is subject to exceptions, if in the “professional judgement of the dentist, this marking is not practicable.” Specifically, O.C.G.A. § 31-1-7 states: § 31-1-7 Marking of Dentures and Other Removable Dental Prostheses for Identification (a) Every complete upper and lower denture and removable permanent partial denture fabricated by a dentist licensed in Georgia shall be marked with the name or social security number of the patient for whom it is intended. The marking shall be done during fabrication and shall be permanent, legible, and cosmetically acceptable. The exact location of the marking and the methods used to apply or implant it shall be determined by the dentist. (b) If, in the professional judgment of the dentist, this marking is not practicable, the marking shall be as follows: (1) The initials of the patient may be shown if the use of the full name or social security number is impossible; or (2) The marking may be omitted entirely if none of the markings so specified are practical or clinically safe. (c) Any removable dental prosthesis in existence prior to July 1, 1988, shall be marked in accordance with this Code section at the time of any subsequent rebasing. (d) It shall be the duty of the Georgia Board of Dentistry to notify each person licensed to practice dentistry in this state of the requirements of this Code section. Such notification shall be mailed to the address of record of each person licensed to practice dentistry in this state. See O.C.G.A. §31-1-7 (2021) THE FOREGOING IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE AND IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CONSULTWITH A GEORGIA LICENSED ATTORNEY BEFORE PROCEEDINGWITH ANY COURSE OF ACTION.