FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2689

                        PARTIAL VETO

                         C 259 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Defining the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Cody, Campbell and Conway).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  The Dental Practice Act defines the scope of practice of dentists licensed for practice in the state.  The scope generally involves the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries, deformities, and the physical condition of the teeth, gums, and jaw. Dentists are not limited by the medical scope of practice.

Physicians share with dentists some dental procedures.  Physicians may perform oral surgery and extract teeth, as well as diagnose and make x-ray interpretations of the shadows of the teeth, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible, or adjacent soft tissue.  Parties disagree as to whether dental oral surgeons may treat the hard and soft tissues adjacent to the jaw.

Summary:   The dental scope of practice is clarified to include any dental or oral and maxillofacial surgery.  "Oral and maxillofacial surgery" means the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed section 2 which contained an emergency clause.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    45 0 (Senate amended)

House     94 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996