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<chapter num="06" heading="Advertising" title_num="10" subtitle_num="44">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Board” means the State Board of Dental Examiners.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Dentist” means an individual who holds a current license to practice dentistry in Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“General dentist” means a dentist not recognized by the Board as a specialist in an area of dental specialty.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Prohibition of Deceptive or Misleading Statements or Claims.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A dentist may not, on behalf of himself, his partner, or his associate, or for any other dentist affiliated with him, use or participate in the use of any form of public communication which contains a deceptive or misleading statement or claim.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Deceptive or misleading statements or claims are those that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Contain a material misrepresentation of fact;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Fail to state any fact necessary to make the statement not misleading;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Are intended or are likely to create unjustified expectations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>State or imply that a dentist is a certified or recognized specialist other than as recognized by the Board;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>State or imply superior service;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>Contain a representation or implication that is likely to cause an ordinary prudent person to misunderstand or to be deceived;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Contain statistical data or other information based on past performance coupled with an explicit representation that the data or information indicates a likelihood of future success;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Contain or imply any guarantee of satisfaction, except the guarantee to return a fee if the patient is not satisfied with the treatment rendered;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(9)">
        <text>Use electronic media, including television, radio, and motion pictures, in a manner inconsistent with these regulations and the following criteria:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Broadcast advertising shall be communicated to the public only over radio or television stations that are approved by the Federal Communications Commission or over cable television,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Broadcast advertisements shall be prerecorded, and approved for broadcast by the advertising dentist, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>A recording of the actual transmission shall be retained by the advertising dentist for a period of 3 years;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(10)">
        <text>Fail to include the name of a responsible licensed dentist who provides dental services at the location advertised; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(11)">
        <text>State or imply that a dentist practices in an area of dental specialty unless the dentist:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Is recognized by the Board as a specialist in the area advertised,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Includes in the advertisement a disclaimer that the dentist is not recognized by the Board as a specialist in the area of practice advertised, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Includes in the advertisement a statement that the dentist is a general dentist.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Fees.">
    <text>A statement regarding fees shall be considered deceptive or misleading if the dentist:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Renders the service at more than the fees advertised;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Fails to offer the service at the fee advertised for a reasonable period of time following the advertisement unless a specific time limit is included in the original advertisement.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Responsibility.">
    <text>A dentist shall be responsible for an advertisement of service regardless of whether the advertising has been generated by him personally, by his employees, or by a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, union, public school clinic, state institution, or eleemosynary institution which uses his services.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Penalties for Violation.">
    <text>Violations of these regulations pertaining to the use of advertising shall constitute unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary action against the dentist as set forth in Health Occupations Article, §4-315, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Retention and Inspection.">
    <text>A dentist shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Retain a copy of all advertising, in the form in which it was published, for a period of 3 years from the date of publication; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Make the copy available for inspection and copying when requested by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Health Occupations Article, §§4-205, 4-315, and 4-503, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: January 23, 1981 (8:2 Md. R. 112)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended effective November 2, 1998 (25:22 Md. R. 1652)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03B amended effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 300); November 2, 1998 (25:22 Md. R. 1652)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .07 adopted effective July 12, 1998 (25:14 Md. R. 1132)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter revised effective December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2129)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02B amended effective August 16, 2004 (31:16 Md. R. 1255); April 30, 2012 (39:8 Md. R. 536)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>