Section R20-6-1801. Definitions

In this Chapter, the following definitions apply:

“Appointment” means a first-available, initial, non-emergent, diagnostic visit to a dentist.

“Board certified” means a dentist who is recognized by the appropriate specialty board of the Commission on Accredita- tion of Dental Education of the American Dental Association.

“Board eligible” means a dentist who successfully completes an approved training program in a specialty field recognized by the American Dental Association.

“Chief executive officer” means the person who has the authority and responsibility for the operation of a prepaid den- tal plan Organization according to applicable legal require- ments and policies approved by the governing authority.

“Dental hygienist” means a person who is licensed to practice dental hygiene under A.R.S. § 32-1281 et seq.

“Dentist” means a person who is licensed to practice dentistry under A.R.S. § 32-1201 et seq.

“Department” means the Arizona Department of Insurance.

“Diagnostic service” means a dental service intended to iden- tify a dental abnormality, and includes a radiograph and a clin- ical exam.

“Director” means the director of the Arizona Department of Insurance.

“Emergency dental service” means a dental service intended to evaluate and stabilize a dental condition of recent onset, con- trol bleeding, and relieve pain, and includes the provision of local anesthesia, and elimination of acute infection, but does not mean a medication that is prescribed by the dentist.

“General dentist” means a dentist whose practice is not limited to a specific area and who is not board certified.

“Governing authority” means the persons, including a board of trustees or board of directors, who have the ultimate authority and responsibility for the direction of a prepaid dental plan Organization.

“Organization” means a prepaid dental plan organization as defined in A.R.S. § 20-1001.

“Patient” means a person who is being attended by a dentist or dental hygienist to receive an examination, diagnosis, or dental treatment, or a combination of an examination, diagnosis, and dental treatment.

“Preventive service” means dental care intended to maintain dental health and prevent dental disease, including any combi- nation of oral hygiene education, routine prophylaxis, and application of fluorides.

“Prophylaxis” means cleaning the teeth of a patient with healthy tissue using mild abrasives and dental instruments to remove plaque, calculus, and stains above the gum line.

“Provider directory” means an Organization’s published list- ing of all contracted network dentists.

“Radiograph” means a picture produced on a sensitive surface by a form of radiation other than light, including x-ray.

“Restorative service” means the use of a metal or composite filling or crown.

“Specialist” means a dentist whose practice is limited to one of the nine specialty categories recognized by the American Den- tal Association: endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral pathology, or dental public health.

“Treatment plan” means a statement of the services to be per- formed to eliminate or alleviate a patient’s symptoms or dis- ease, based on a dentist’s assessment of the patient’s dental history, the clinical examination, and the dentist’s diagnosis.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 463, effective January 10, 2002 (Supp. 02-1).