Pennsylvania Act 2004-101 — PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION LABELING OF DENTURES

Act text

PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION LABELING OF DENTURES
                 Act of Nov. 19, 2004, P.L. 835, No. 101              Cl. 35
                                  AN ACT

     Relating to the permanent identification labeling of dentures.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

     Section 1.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Rebasing."  The complete replacement of all the pink tissue
     portion of a removable full or partial denture.
     Section 2.  Permanent marking.
        (a)  General rule.--Every complete upper and lower denture,
     removable partial dental prosthesis and removable acrylic
     orthodontic appliance fabricated by a dentist licensed in this
     Commonwealth or fabricated pursuant to the dentist's work order
     or under the dentist's direction or supervision shall be marked
     with the name of the patient for whom the denture is intended.
     The markings shall be done during the fabrication and shall be
     permanent, legible and cosmetically acceptable. The dentist or
     the dental laboratory fabricating the upper and lower denture,
     removable partial dental prosthesis or removable acrylic
     orthodontic appliance shall determine the exact location of the
     markings and the methods used to apply or implant them.
        (b)  Exceptions.--
            (1)  If in the professional judgment of the dentist or
        the dental laboratory this identification is not practical
        because the name cannot be placed in an obscure area,
        identification may be shown with the initials of the patient.
            (2)  If in the professional judgment of the dentist or
        the dental laboratory during manufacture or repair of the
        denture it is determined that the forms of identification
        identified above are not safe for the patient, the
        identification requirement established by subsection (a) is
        waived.
            (3)  Full or removable dentures that are relined are not
        subject to the identification requirement established by
        subsection (a).
     Section 3.  Subsequent marking.
        Any removable upper and lower denture, removable partial
     dental prosthesis or removable acrylic orthodontic appliance in
     existence before the effective date of this section that was not
     marked in accordance with section 1 at the time of its
     fabrication shall be marked at the time of any subsequent
     rebasing.
     Section 4.  Patient's exemption.
        If the patient or legal guardian for the patient shall for
     reason of privacy or personal wishes refuse to have any upper
     and lower denture, removable partial dental prosthesis or
     removable acrylic orthodontic appliance covered under this act
     to be labeled, a signed and dated copy of a release to the
     effect shall accompany the denture to the laboratory fabricating
     the denture. The original signed and dated release shall be kept
     in the patient's dental record.
     Section 5.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect in 60 days.