Wash. Rev. Code » Title 18 · Chapter 18.32
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.32.020 (2026)

Practice of dentistry defined

✓ current as of May 2026
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A person practices dentistry, within the meaning of this chapter, who (1) represents himself or herself as being able to diagnose, treat, remove stains and concretions from teeth, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity, or physical condition of the human teeth, alveolar process, gums, or jaw, or (2) offers or undertakes by any means or methods to diagnose, treat, remove stains or concretions from teeth, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity, or physical condition of the same, or take impressions of the teeth or jaw, or (3) owns, maintains, or operates an office for the practice of dentistry, or (4) engages in any of the practices included in the curricula of recognized and approved dental schools or colleges, or (5) professes to the public by any method to furnish, supply, construct, reproduce, or repair any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance, or other structure to be worn in the human mouth.
The fact that a person uses any dental degree, or designation, or any card, device, directory, poster, sign, or other media whereby he or she represents himself or herself to be a dentist, shall be prima facie evidence that such person is engaged in the practice of dentistry.
X-ray diagnosis as to the method of dental practice in which the diagnosis and examination is made of the normal and abnormal structures, parts, or functions of the human teeth, the alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or soft tissues adjacent thereto, is hereby declared to be the practice of dentistry. Any person other than a regularly licensed physician or surgeon who makes any diagnosis or interpretation or explanation, or attempts to diagnose or to make any interpretation or explanation of the registered shadow or shadows of any part of the human teeth, alveolar process, maxilla, mandible or soft tissues adjacent thereto by the use of X-ray is declared to be engaged in the practice of dentistry, medicine, or surgery.
The practice of dentistry includes the performance of any dental or oral and maxillofacial surgery. "Oral and maxillofacial surgery" means the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
[ 2011 c 336 s 477; 1996 c 259 s 1; 1957 c 98 s 1; 1957 c 52 s 20. Prior: (i) 1935 c 112 s 6; RRS s 10031-6. (ii) 1943 c 240 s 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 10031-6a.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases, 1953–2014 · leading case: Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 161 Wash. 2d 43 (Wash. 2007).
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Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 161 Wash. 2d 43 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 13× “Professional liability provision ¶20 Woo makes three basic arguments with regard to Fireman’s duty to defend under the professional liability provision.”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 164 P.3d 454 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 13× “First, he argues that the insertion of boar tusk flippers in Alberts' mouth constituted the practice of dentistry as defined in his policy and RCW 18.32.020. Second, he argues that the Court of Appeals improperly extended the "sexual misconduct" rule from Standard Fire Insurance…”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 114 P.3d 681 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “RCW 18.32.020. ¶ 6 The employment practices liability portion of the policy provided coverage for "damages as a result of sexual harassment, discrimination, or wrongful discharge that arise out of a wrongful employment practice.”
Gebbie v. Olson, 828 P.2d 1170 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 5× “Olson from continuing the unlicensed practice of dentistry in violation of RCW 18.32.020 and RCW 18.130-.190. The Department filed a motion for summary judgment on November 15.”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 128 Wash. App. 95 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “RCW 18.32.020. f6 The employment practices liability portion of the policy provided coverage for “damages as a result of sexual harassment, discrimination, or wrongful discharge that arise out of a wrongful employment practice.”
Morelli v. Ehsan, 756 P.2d 129 (Wash. 1988). · cites it 2× “011(1)) did not expressly include the ownership, maintenance, or operation of an office as it did in defining the practice of dentistry (RCW 18.32.020). While this is so, we concur with the comment of the Court of Appeals: " [I]t would be incongruent to conclude that the…”
State v. Anderson, 338 P.2d 740 (Wash. 1959). · cites it 3× “380) to enjoin defendant-appellant from engaging in the practice of dentistry, as defined by RCW 18.32.020 and RCW 18.32.030. The appellant is not and never has been licensed to practice dentistry.”
Fallahzadeh v. Ghorbanian, 82 P.3d 684 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “Under RCW 18.32.020(3), any person who "owns, maintains or operates an office for the practice of dentistry" is engaged in the practice of dentistry.”
State v. Boren, 253 P.2d 939 (Wash. 1953). “390 was based, there was, in addition thereto, evidence which established an extraction and fillings for Miss Profitt, and also evidence from which a jury could have found that the appellant owned, maintained or operated an office for the practice of dentistry, which in itself…”
McKenna v. Harrison Mem'l Hosp., 960 P.2d 486 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). “035 (definition of practice of podiatric medicine and surgery); RCW 18.”
Fallahzadeh v. Ghorbanian, 82 P.3d 684 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “Under RCW 18.32.020(3), any person who “owns, maintains or operates an office for the practice of dentistry” is engaged in the practice of dentistry.”
Everett v. State, 661 P.2d 588 (Wash. 1983). “His argument centers on the language of RCW 18.32.020 which states that a person licensed as a dentist may " (4) [engage] in any of the practices included in the curricula of recognized and approved dental schools or colleges".”
Show all 16 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.32.020(1) — 3 cases
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 161 Wash. 2d 43 (Wash. 2007). “Professional liability provision ¶20 Woo makes three basic arguments with regard to Fireman’s duty to defend under the professional liability provision.”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 164 P.3d 454 (Wash. 2007). “First, he argues that the insertion of boar tusk flippers in Alberts' mouth constituted the practice of dentistry as defined in his policy and RCW 18.32.020. Second, he argues that the Court of Appeals improperly extended the "sexual misconduct" rule from Standard Fire Insurance…”
Choong H. Lee, Dmd, Pllc v. Thaheld/lee-01, Llc, Res. (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.32.020(3) — 6 cases
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 161 Wash. 2d 43 (Wash. 2007). “Professional liability provision ¶20 Woo makes three basic arguments with regard to Fireman’s duty to defend under the professional liability provision.”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 164 P.3d 454 (Wash. 2007). “First, he argues that the insertion of boar tusk flippers in Alberts' mouth constituted the practice of dentistry as defined in his policy and RCW 18.32.020. Second, he argues that the Court of Appeals improperly extended the "sexual misconduct" rule from Standard Fire Insurance…”
Morelli v. Ehsan, 756 P.2d 129 (Wash. 1988). “011(1)) did not expressly include the ownership, maintenance, or operation of an office as it did in defining the practice of dentistry (RCW 18.32.020). While this is so, we concur with the comment of the Court of Appeals: " [I]t would be incongruent to conclude that the…”
Fallahzadeh v. Ghorbanian, 82 P.3d 684 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “Under RCW 18.32.020(3), any person who "owns, maintains or operates an office for the practice of dentistry" is engaged in the practice of dentistry.”
Fallahzadeh v. Ghorbanian, 82 P.3d 684 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “Under RCW 18.32.020(3), any person who “owns, maintains or operates an office for the practice of dentistry” is engaged in the practice of dentistry.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.32.020(5) — 3 cases
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 161 Wash. 2d 43 (Wash. 2007). “Professional liability provision ¶20 Woo makes three basic arguments with regard to Fireman’s duty to defend under the professional liability provision.”
Woo v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 164 P.3d 454 (Wash. 2007). “First, he argues that the insertion of boar tusk flippers in Alberts' mouth constituted the practice of dentistry as defined in his policy and RCW 18.32.020. Second, he argues that the Court of Appeals improperly extended the "sexual misconduct" rule from Standard Fire Insurance…”
Gebbie v. Olson, 828 P.2d 1170 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “Olson from continuing the unlicensed practice of dentistry in violation of RCW 18.32.020 and RCW 18.130-.190. The Department filed a motion for summary judgment on November 15.”
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