# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 44 — Board of Dental Examiners

### Chapter 32 — General Competency Requirements

**Authority:** Health-General Article, §§4-205(a)(5), 4-205(c)(3), and 4-315(a), Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: July 9, 2012 (39:13 Md. R. 786)

#### Regulation .01 Definition.

*COMAR 10.44.32.01*

A. In this chapter, the following term has the meaning indicated.

B. Term Defined. “Practice dentistry” means to:

  (1) Be a manager, a proprietor, or a conductor of or an operator in any place in which a dental service or dental operation is performed intraorally;

  (2) Perform or attempt to perform any intraoral dental service or intraoral dental operation;

  (3) Diagnose, treat, or attempt to diagnose or treat any disease, injury, malocclusion, or malposition of a tooth, gum, or jaw, or structures associated with a tooth, gum, or jaw if the service, operation, or procedure is included in:

    (a) The curricula of an accredited dental school; or

    (b) An approved dental residency program of an accredited hospital or teaching institution;

  (4) Perform or offer to perform dental laboratory work;

  (5) Place or adjust a dental appliance in a human mouth; or

  (6) Administer anesthesia for the purposes of dentistry and not as a medical specialty.

#### Regulation .02 Professional Competence.

*COMAR 10.44.32.02*

A. A dentist shall practice dentistry as defined in Regulation .01 of this chapter.

B. A dentist shall:

  (1) Limit their practice to the areas of competence by which proficiency has been gained through education, training, and experience;

  (2) Acquire the special education and training needed to address the cultural differences of diverse populations;

  (3) Avoid unfair discrimination based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, disability, socioeconomic status, or other basis proscribed by law;

  (4) Use treatment only when the dentist knows that the circumstances are appropriate;

  (5) Maintain competence by meeting the requirements of continuing education in accordance with COMAR 10.44.22;

  (6) Engage in ongoing consultation with other dentists or relevant professionals;

  (7) Seek appropriate education, training, and experience when developing competence in a new service or technique; and

  (8) Document and maintain appropriate records of all relevant course work and training used to gain competence.