Dentistry Act
1985 no. 38, 12 June
Took effect 1 July 1985. Amended by Act no. 116/1993 (took effect 1 Jan. 1994; EEA Agreement – Annex VII, Directive 78/686/EEC 78/687/EEC), Act no. 82/1998 (took effect 1 Oct. 1998), Act no. 30/2002 (took effect 16 April 2002), Act no. 76/2002 (took effect 17 May 2002) and Act no. 72/2003 (took effect 10 April 2003).
Art. 1
[The right to practise dentistry in Iceland and to call oneself a dentist (tannlæknir) belongs to:
1. a person granted a licence by the Ministry of Health and Social Security under arts. 2 and 3.
2. [a person who has been granted recognition by the Ministry of Health and Social Security of a dentistry licence in a country which is a party to the European Economic Area Agreement or the inaugural agreement of the European Free Trade Association.].1)
The Minister shall by regulations make further provisions on those who may practise dentistry in Iceland under item 2 para.1.]2)
1) Act no. 72/2003, art. 25 2) Act no. 116/1993, art. 2
Art. 2
[A licence as provided in item 1 para. 1 art. 1 shall be granted to those who have completed an examination from the University of Iceland Faculty of Odontology.]1)
Before a licence is granted under this article, the opinion of the University of Iceland Faculty of Odontology shall be elicited on the fitness of the applicant to work as a dentist. The Minister may refuse to grant a licence if the opinion is negative.
1) Act no. 116/1993, art. 2
Art. 3
[A person who has completed an examination comparable to that provided in para. 1 art. 2 in a country outside the European Economic Area [and in Switzerland],1)may be granted a licence under item 1 para. 1 art. 1. The University of Iceland Faculty of Odontology may make its recommendation conditional upon the applicant demonstrating his/her competence to the Faculty by an examination. In the case of foreign citizens, other than citizens of an EEA nation [and Switzerland],1) they shall also demonstrate adequate knowledge of the Icelandic language. The licence may be granted for a limited period. The opinions of the Icelandic Dental Association and of the Director of Health shall also be elicited.]2)
Should Iceland become party to an international agreement on reciprocal recognition of professional rights of dentists, the provisions of this article shall be applied, as relevant and as compatible with the relevant international agreement.
1) Act no. 76/2002, art. 17 2) Act no. 116/1993, art. 2
Art. 4
A person may be refused a dentist’s licence, if the provisions of para. 2 art. 68 apply to his/her circumstances.
Art. 5
[A dentist has the right to call him/herself a specialist and to practise as such in Iceland if:
1. he/she has been granted a licence as such by the Minister of Health and Social Security,
2. [he/she has been granted recognition by the Minister of Health and Social Security of a specialist dental licence in a country which is a party to the European Economic Area or to the inaugural treaty of the European Free Trade Association].1)
The Minister issues rules on the training of specialists, having received proposals from a committee which he/she appoints for a term of three years. The committee shall comprise the Dean of the University of Iceland Faculty of Odontology, who shall chair the committee, the Chief Dental Officer at the Ministry of Health and Social Security, and a nominee of the Icelandic Dental Association. This committee shall also provide opinions on applications for specialist dental licences; in consideration of individual cases, they may call upon two specialist dentists in the specialist field for which a licence application is made. They also have the right to vote in the committee.
The Minister shall, by regulations,2)issue further rules regarding those who may call themselves specialist dentists, under item 2 para.1]3)
1) Act no. 72/2003, art. 26 2)Regs. no. 402/1986, cp. 358/1988 and 184/2001. 3) Act no. 116/1993, art. 2
Art. 6
The field of work of dentists is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental decay, malocclusion and edentia, and with related diseases, accidents and defects, including those in soft tissues and bones.
Art. 7
Prescribing of medications by dentists is subject to the provisions of the Pharmaceuticals Act no. 108/1984 1) and regulations issued on the basis of that Act.
1)Now Act no. 93/1994
Art. 8
Dentists may have assistants.1)With regard to specialised assistants, the provisions of legislation on health professions with technical training apply.
1)Regs. no. 258/1990 (training, rights and obligations of dentists’ assistants).
Art. 9
Assistants as provided in art. 8 shall always be under the guidance and on the responsibility of a dentist.They are not authorised to perform any task independently which falls within the field of dentistry.
People other than dentists and their specialised assistants are not permitted to practise dentistry.
Art. 10
Every dentist must maintain confidentiality with regard to matters of which he/she becomes aware in his/her work, and which should remain confidential by law, or by the nature of the matter.
The same duty of confidentiality applies to all dentists’ assistants, and the duty of confidentiality persists after employment ceases.
Art. 11
[Dentists are prohibited from advertising their dental practice in any way. When a dental practice is opened, however, it may be advertised by modest advertisements.
Dentists and their professional organisation must resist the use of quotations from dentists or interviews or the writing of articles about them in newspapers or periodicals for advertising purposes. If this cannot be prevented, the relevant dentist or his/her professional organisation must immediately correct any misrepresentation.]1)
1) Act no. 30/2002, art. 25
Art. 12
Should the Director of Health become aware that a dentist neglects his/her duties, oversteps the bounds of his/her field of work, or violates the terms of Icelandic health legislation, the Director must reprimand the dentist, and also notify the Ministry of Health and the Icelandic Dental Association of the reprimand, and the reason for it.
Should the reprimand not be effective, the Director of Health must report the case to the Minister. The Minister can rule that the person’s licence to practise dentistry be revoked. Such a ruling may be submitted to the courts.
[The provisions of paras. 1 and 2 and the provisions of art. 13 shall apply, as applicable, to those who have received recognition from the Minister of Health and Social Security as provided in item 2 para. 1 art. 1 or item 2 para. 1 art. 5.
If an individual practising in Iceland on the basis of a licence as provided in item 2 para. 1 art. 1 or item 2 para. 1 art. 5 has his/her licence revoked, his/her entitlement to practise in Iceland on the basis of that licence ceased to apply.]1)
1) Act no. 116/1993, art. 2
Art. 13
Every dentist must maintain his/her knowledge. Should the Director of Health be of the opinion that a dentist has demonstrated that he/she no longer meets the criteria required of him/her, this is reported to the Minister. The Minister elicits the opinion of the University of Iceland Faculty of Odontology. Should the Faculty be in agreement with the Director of Health, the dentist’s licence to practise dentistry may be revoked. Such a ruling may be submitted to the courts.
Art. 14
Dentists shall maintain medical records for patients whom they treat. Such records must not be destroyed without the permission of the Minister of Health, having received proposals from the Director of Health. When a dentist retires, medical records he/she has maintained shall be placed in the keeping of the Director of Health.
Art. 15
Violations of the provisions of this Act entail, in addition to revocation of the licence to practise dentistry as provided in arts. 12 and 13, fines [or imprisonment for up to two years].1)
Otherwise the provisions of art. 18 of the Physicians Act no. 80/19692) apply, as applicable.
1) Act no. 82/1998, art. 177 2)Now Act no. 53/1988
Art. 16
The provisions of the Physicians Act no. 80, of 23 June 19691)shall otherwise apply as relevant to dentists and their specialised assistants.
1)Now Act no. 53/1988
Art. 17
This Act takes effect immediately.
English translation Anna Yates
Dentistry Act No. 38/1985 (pdf 41KB opens in a new window)