PRINTER'S NO. 3198
No. 2298 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, BELFANTI, CREIGHTON, DeWEESE,
FREEMAN, GOOD, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HUTCHINSON, LEACH, PICKETT,
PISTELLA, ROBERTS, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, WILT AND CIVERA,
JANUARY 26, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
JANUARY 26, 2004
AN ACT
1 Relating to the permanent identification labeling of dentures.
2 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
3 hereby enacts as follows:
4 Section 1. Definitions.
5 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
6 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
7 context clearly indicates otherwise:
8 "Rebasing." The complete replacement of all the pink tissue
9 portion of a removable full or partial denture.
10 Section 2. Permanent marking.
11 (a) General rule.--Every complete upper and lower denture,
12 removable partial dental prosthesis and removable acrylic
13 orthodontic appliance fabricated by a dentist licensed in this
14 Commonwealth or fabricated pursuant to the dentist's work order
15 or under the dentist's direction or supervision shall be marked
16 with the name of the patient for whom the denture is intended.
1 The markings shall be done during the fabrication and shall be
2 permanent, legible and cosmetically acceptable. The dentist or
3 the dental laboratory fabricating the upper and lower denture,
4 removable partial dental prosthesis or removable acrylic
5 orthodontic appliance shall determine the exact location of the
6 markings and the methods used to apply or implant them.
7 (b) Exceptions.--
8 (1) If, in the professional judgment of the dentist or
9 the dental laboratory, this identification is not practical
10 because the name cannot be placed in an obscure area,
11 identification may be shown with the initials of the patient.
12 (2) If in the professional judgment of the dentist or
13 the dental laboratory during manufacture or repair of the
14 denture it is determined that the forms of identification
15 identified above are not safe for the patient, the
16 identification requirement established by subsection (a) is
17 waived.
18 (3) Full or removable dentures that are relined are not
19 subject to the identification requirement established by
20 subsection (a).
21 Section 3. Subsequent marking.
22 Any removable upper and lower denture, removable partial
23 dental prosthesis or removable acrylic orthodontic appliance in
24 existence before the effective date of this section that was not
25 marked in accordance with section 1 at the time of its
26 fabrication shall be marked at the time of any subsequent
27 rebasing.
28 Section 4. Patient's exemption.
29 If the patient or legal guardian for the patient shall for
30 reason of privacy or personal wishes refuse to have any upper
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1 and lower denture, removable partial dental prosthesis or
2 removable acrylic orthodontic appliance covered under this act
3 to be labeled, a signed and dated copy of a release to the
4 effect shall accompany the denture to the laboratory fabricating
5 the denture. The original signed and dated release shall be kept
6 in the patient's dental record.
7 Section 5. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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