SECTION 116.10. Prosthetic Identification

(a) It shall be the duty of the licensed dentist to insure that all removable prosthetic devices or removable orthodontic appliances delivered to a patient under his or her care bear a permanent identification marking suitable to determine that the prosthetic device or removable orthodontic appliance belongs to that patient.

(b) A suitable marking shall be defined as one that includes the patient's last name and first initial, and/or social security number. This marking shall be placed in the denture base of the removable prosthetic device or acrylic portion of the removable orthodontic appliance in such a manner as not to compromise the aesthetics of the restoration.

(c) The licensed dentist shall install this identification marking or shall request on the prescription to a registered dental laboratory that the laboratory place the identification marking in the removable prosthetic device or removable orthodontic appliance.

(d) Nothing in this rule shall preclude a dental laboratory from charging a fee for this service.

(e) This rule shall not apply to any removable prosthetic device or removable orthodontic appliance that contains no acrylic, vinyl or plastic denture base, or if said appliance is too small to reasonably accomplish this procedure.

(f) A dental laboratory that is required to register with the State Board of Dental Examiners shall clearly label or certify in writing to the prescribing dentist that the prosthesis or appliance being delivered to the prescribing dentist was either:

(1) manufactured entirely by the SBDE registered dental laboratory;

(2) manufactured in part or whole by a domestic laboratory inside of the United States; or,

(3) manufactured in part or whole by a foreign laboratory outside of the United States and clearly identify the country in which the dental laboratory work was performed.

(g) A dental laboratory that is required to register with the State Board of Dental Examiners may return to the dentist who issued the prescription written certification of all materials utilized in the prosthesis or appliance, including the percentage of each ingredient used in the fabrication of the prosthesis or appliance.

Source Note: The provisions of this §116.10 adopted to be effective May 26, 2005, 30 TexReg 3020; amended to be effective February 26, 2009, 34 TexReg 1247; amended to be effective December 22, 2010, 35 TexReg 11257