§34-9-21. Employing services of commercial dental laboratory or private technician.

(a) Every duly licensed and registered dentist who employs the services of a commercial dental laboratory or private technician for the purpose of constructing, altering, repairing, or duplicating any prostheses (fixed or removable), splint, or orthodontic appliance shall be required to furnish the commercial dental laboratory or private technician an impression or cast made by the dentist when necessary, together with a prescription setting forth the following:

(1) The name and address of the commercial dental laboratory or private dental technician.

(2) The patient's name or identification number, and if a number is used the patient's name shall be written upon the duplicate copy of the prescription retained by the dentist.

(3) The date on which the prescription was written.

(4) A description of the work to be done, with diagram if necessary.

(5) A specification of the type and quality of materials to be used.

(6) The signature of the dentist and his or her license number.

(b) Such prescription shall be made in duplicate form. The duplicate copy shall be retained in a permanent file for a period of two years by the dentist, and the original copy shall be retained on a permanent file for a period of two years by the commercial dental laboratory or private technician. Such permanent file of prescriptions to be kept by such dentists, commercial dental laboratory, or private technician shall be open to inspection at any reasonable time by the board or its duly constituted agent. Failure of the dentist, commercial dental laboratory, or private technician to keep such permanent records of prescriptions which are identifiable with each prostheses (fixed or removable), splint, or orthodontic appliance shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this chapter and shall constitute and be punishable as a misdemeanor.

(Acts 1959, No. 100, p. 569, §25; Act 2011-571, p. 1165, §1.)