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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 4Art. 4§ 1684 Scope Of Dental Practice

§ 1684 Scope Of Dental Practice

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1684 Scope Of Dental Practice

Key Takeaways

  • •Dentists must only do work they are trained and licensed to do.
  • •They can't use tools or methods that aren't standard in dentistry.
  • •This rule doesn't apply to dental schools doing research or special FDA-approved studies.

Example

A dentist tries to do a heart surgery on a patient.

The dentist is not trained or licensed to do heart surgery, so this is against the rules. They can only do dental work they know how to do safely.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1684 Scope Of Dental Practice

In addition to other acts constituting unprofessional conduct under this chapter, it is unprofessional conduct for a person licensed under this chapter to perform, or hold himself or herself out as able to perform, professional services beyond the scope of his or her license and field or fields of competence as established by his or her education, experience, training, or any combination thereof. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of any instrument or device in a manner that is not in accordance with the customary standards and practices of the dental profession. This section shall not apply to research conducted by accredited dental schools or colleges, or to research conducted pursuant to an investigational device exemption issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration. (Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 365, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

unprofessional conductscope of competencecustomary standards and practicesinvestigational device exemption

Related Statutes

  • § 1954 Dental Hygiene Scope Limits
  • § 1670 License Discipline Procedures
  • § 1681 Professional Substance Use Prohibitions
  • § 1683 Dental Record Identification Requirements
  • § 1683.1 Telehealth Dentist Identification

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 1684.
View Official Source