FINAL BILL REPORT

                    I 607

                           C 1 L 95

Brief Description:  Denturists regulated.

Sponsors:  People of the State of Washington

Background:  The practice of denturity has never been licensed in this state.  Denturity involves making, altering, reproducing and repairing dentures.  Denturists have only been able to legally supply consumers with dentures by working under the license of a dentist. Dentists are the only professionals able to legally make, repair and install dentures. 

Denturists tried to receive licensure from the state in 1985 but their proposed legislation was referred for a Sunrise Review which recommended against licensure.  The Sunrise Review proposed certification for denturists, and over the next few years several attempts to pass this legislation failed.

Summary:  The practice of denturity is regulated by the state, and only persons with licenses issued by the Department of Health may practice.  (Denturity is also within the dental scope of practice.)  The practice of denturity includes taking impressions and making, placing, or supplying a denture.  A board of Denture Technology is established with seven members appointed by the Secretary consisting of four denturists, one dentist, and two public members.  The board examines and determines qualifications of applicants for licensure, has rule-making authority, sets fees, and acts as the disciplining authority.

Applicants for licensure  may qualify by several alternatives.  These include:  being currently licensed in another state or federal enclave with substantially equivalent practice standards; or having graduated from a formal denturism program of at least two years duration and taking an exam; or taking a training course approved by the board, passing the exam and practicing for at least 4000 hours or five years.

The initiative establishes denturism, when practiced by denturists, as a mandated insurance benefit if the policy covers denturism performed by dentists.

Effective:  December 8, 1994