An examination and analysis of the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act

Abstract

Some aspects of the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act may be misunderstood by those licensees whom it governs. The professional liability of the dentist-employer and the dental hygienist employee is jeopardized by the ambiguities of the Dental Practice Act. The goal of this study is to clarify the ambiguous aspects of the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act as it pertains to the regulation of dental hygiene licensees. The State Dental Practice Acts of New York and Pennsylvania will be compared to the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act to aid in the clarification of those areas where the Massachusetts law is stated ambiguously. Issues of legality and ethics due to the vagueness of the act will be addressed. Recommendations for the revision of the current Dental Practice Act to clarify the identified gray areas will be offered.