HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5774

BYSenators Tanner and Anderson

Requiring permanent identification markings on dentures and removable dental prosthesis.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Cantwell, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Bumgarner.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 17, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Dentures of nursing home residents are misplaced from time to time, or become combined for mass cleaning and as a result are not so easily identified.

SUMMARY:

Dentures fabricated by a dentist, or under the direction of a dentist, are required to be appropriately identified with either the name or initials of the patient, as determined by the dentist, unless it is found to be impractical or not clinically safe.  Dentures made prior to the effective date of this act are to be similarly identified at any subsequent time for rebasing.  The Department of Social and Health Services is to provide any necessary technical assistance.  Dentists failing to comply with this requirement are subject to disciplinary proceedings within a period of two years from the date of the initial dental insertion.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dr. Peter Hampl, Citizen.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    In order to prevent the loss of dentures of nursing home patients, dentists should identify the owner with either their name or initials where appropriate.  It would be a simple procedure during their fabrication, but would avoid needless expense if dentures had to be replaced because of loss.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.