2010 Mississippi Code
TITLE 73 - PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS
Chapter 9 - Dentists.
73-9-19 - Registration of dentists.

§ 73-9-19. Registration of dentists.
 

The State Board of Dental Examiners shall maintain a compiled list of the names and post office addresses of all licensees registered with the board, arranged alphabetically by name and also by the municipalities where their offices are situated. Every licensee shall notify the board within thirty (30) days of any change in address of his or her office or residence. Failure to keep the board apprised of any change of address may result in an administrative penalty to the licensee, the amount of which shall not exceed the amount stipulated in Section 73-9-43. Every licensee shall prominently display his or her current registration, either the original or a notarized copy, in his or her place(s) of business. As used in this section, the word "licensee" shall include all dental and dental hygiene license holders, as well as all holders of permits duly issued by the board. 
 

Except as provided in Section 33-1-39, every licensee shall, in accordance with the laws and rules and regulations of the board, together with appropriate required information and renewal fee, apply for renewal for such period as set by the board, and the board shall issue the registration certificate to any licensee in good standing with the board. The board shall have the specific authority to adopt such rules and regulations setting the dates and deadlines for license/permit renewal and establishing the penalty for failure to renew same. 
 

Any licensee performing acts within the scope of this chapter without legally having in his or her custody a valid active registration certificate or duly issued duplicate therefor in accordance with provisions elsewhere set out may be found guilty and punished or prosecuted therefor in accordance with law; however, the filing of the application, the payment of the fee, and the issuance of the certificate therefor, shall not entitle the holder thereof to lawfully practice within the State of Mississippi unless he or she has in fact been previously licensed by the State Board of Dental Examiners as provided by this chapter, and unless the license/permit is in full force and effect; in addition, in any prosecution for the unlicensed practice,the receipt showing payment of the renewal fee required by this chapter shall not be treated as evidence that the holder thereof is lawfully entitled to practice according to his or her license/permit. 
 

Any licensee who is registered but not actively practicing in the State of Mississippi at the time of making application for renewal, shall be registered on the inactive list and shall not be authorized to practice his or her profession in this state. The inactive list shall be maintained by the board and shall set out the names and post office addresses of all licensees registered but not actively practicing in this state, arranged alphabetically by name and also by the municipalities and states of their last known professional or residential address. However, licensed dentists or dental hygienists actively practicing at a veterans hospital, federal government facility or residency graduate school program at the time of renewal shall not be registered on the inactive list. 
 

Only the licensees registered on the appropriate list as actively practicing in the State of Mississippi shall be authorized to practice their profession. For the purpose of this section, any licensed dentist or dental hygienist who has actively practiced his or her profession for at least three (3) months of the immediately preceding license renewal period shall be considered in active practice. 
 

No licensee shall be registered on the inactive list until the licensee has been furnished a statement of intent to take that action by the board. The board shall notify the licensee by mail that on the day fixed for hearing he or she may appear and show cause, if any, why his or her license/permit to practice dentistry or dental hygiene should remain active. The licensee may be present at the hearing in person, by counsel, or both. For the purpose of the hearing the board may require the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths and hear testimony, either oral or documentary, for and against the licensee, and if after the hearing, the board is satisfied that the licensee should be registered on the inactive list, it shall thereupon without further notice take that action. 
 

Any licensed dentist or dental hygienist registered on the inactive list shall not be eligible for registration on the active list until either of the following conditions have been satisfied: 
 

(a) Written application shall be submitted to the State Board of Dental Examiners stating the reasons for the inactivity and setting forth such other information as the board may require on an individual basis; or 

(b) Evidence to the satisfaction of the board shall be submitted that they have actively practiced their profession in good standing in another state and have not been guilty of conduct that would warrant suspension or revocation as provided by applicable law. 
 

Sources: Codes, 1930, § 4301; 1942, § 8753; Laws,  1928, ch. 131; Laws, 1966, ch. 467, § 1; Laws, 1977, ch. 366; reenacted, Laws, 1983, ch. 488, § 10; Laws, 1991, ch. 483, § 10; Laws, 1992, ch. 580, § 1; reenacted without change, Laws,  1997, ch. 541, § 10; reenacted and amended, Laws, 2002, ch. 524, § 10; Laws, 2007, ch. 309, § 9, eff from and after passage (approved Mar. 8, 2007.)