Can the board employ legal counsel to carry out the provisions of the Dental Practice Act?

• A. No
• B. Only if approved by the legislature
• C. The board may employ legal counsel
• D. Only for criminal prosecutions

Answer: (C)

A board’s authority to employ legal counsel is part of its power to enforce and implement the Dental Practice Act. The statute typically authorizes the board to hire staff, including attorneys, so it can interpret the Act, investigate complaints, conduct disciplinary hearings, and take enforcement action. This makes hiring legal counsel a standard and ongoing function, not something that requires separate legislative approval for each hire or is limited to criminal prosecutions. That’s why selecting that the board may employ legal counsel best reflects how the Act is designed to be carried out in practice.