Rule Update on Specialty Representation – Effective July 3, 2021

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) has modified our state’s dental specialty representation rule (WAC 246-817-420) to clarify specialty areas of practice and add requirements for those who would like to represent themselves as specialists.

Under the new rule, there are two options to obtain recognized specialty designation. To represent oneself as a specialist, a dentist must comply with one of the following requirements:

• Successfully complete a Commission on Dental Affairs (CODA) postdoctoral education program at least two years in length, and that is recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards in one of the following areas:
  • Dental anesthesiology;
  • Dental public health;
  • Endodontics;
  • Oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, or surgery;
  • Oral medicine;
  • Orofacial pain;
  • Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics;
  • Pediatric dentistry;
  • Periodontics; or
  • Prosthodontics.
• Successfully complete a CODA advanced educational program or program of a different accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which is at least two years in length in an area of dentistry not listed under the previous bullet point.

A general dentist may render specialty services, but shall not advertise or represent themselves as a specialist. The rule also clarifies that, if requested by a patient, a dentist must provide their qualifications as a specialist.

Additionally, effective July 1, 2022, for group practices that include two or more dentists, each dentist must be identified as either a general dentist or a specialist. If the provider is a specialist, then the provider must include the area of specialty.

For additional details, please review the adopted rule language here.