Advertising Regulations
2024
{
Quick Tips for the Dental Office
}
Advertising Regulations
Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry( SBOD) regulations permit advertising to provide the public with sufficient information to make an informed selection of a dentist. Advertisements include:
• signs,
• letterhead,
• business cards and
• printed or broadcast announcements of services offered to the public.
An advertisement in any medium must contain the name of at least one dentist whose services are being advertised. Any dentist whose name appears in the advertisement assumes responsibility for the advertisement, and they must use the name that appears on their current biennial renewal certificate.
If a dentist chooses to advertise under a fictitious name, which is a name other than the name that appears on the dentist’ s current biennial renewal certificate, they must comply with the regulations regarding fictious names. Those regulations are listed in § 33.202: https:// www. pacodeandbulletin. gov / Display / pacode? file =/ secure / pacode / data / 049 / chapter33 / s33.202. html & d = reduce.
If a print or broadcast advertisement contains information regarding fees for services offered, or free services, the dentist must honor the advertised fee for at least 60 days from the final publication or broadcast of the advertisement, unless the advertisement specifically stated that the advertised fees would be available for a shorter time period. If the patient accepts a treatment plan for those services within the 60 days, or the period of time stated in the advertisement, the advertised fee must be honored even if services are rendered later.
If a minimum fee is advertised, the advertisement must clearly disclose that the advertised fee is the minimum fee charged, and the actual fee may vary depending on the complexity involved in treatment. Print advertisements must include this disclosure in text that is at least equal to the fee information in size, legibility and length. For broadcast advertisements, this disclosure must be at least equal to fee information in volume, quality and duration.
A recorded copy of broadcast advertisements must be retained for at least one year following the final broadcast.
2024