Bill > HB4593

This bill amends the Michigan Public Health Code to modify regulations around dental specialty licensing, specifically adding a provision that, starting January 1, 2026, prohibits dentists from representing themselves as a "dental specialist" or claiming to specialize in a dental area unless they have been issued a specific health profession specialty field license by the state board. The bill allows the board to issue specialty licenses to dentists who have advanced training and have demonstrated competency through examinations in various dental specialty fields, including prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and several other specialized areas. Dentists who already held specialty certifications as of December 23, 2002, are considered to have specialty licenses, and these licenses must be renewed concurrently with their general dentistry license. Importantly, the bill does not prevent dentists without a specialty license from performing services in these specialty areas, but it does restrict their ability to market themselves as specialists after the 2026 implementation date. The bill is tied to other pending legislation and will only take effect if companion bills are also enacted.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4593