law: 2. Interpretation.-
  In this Act, Unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
  (a) "the Council" means the Dental Council of India constituted under section 3;
  (b) "dental hygienist" means a person not being a dentist or a medical practitioner, who scales, cleans or polishes teeth, or gives instruction in dental hygiene;
  (c) "dental mechanic" means a person who makes or repairs denture and dental appliances;
  (d) "dentistry" includes-
  (i) the performance of any operation on, and the treatment on any disease, deficiency or lesion of, human teeth or jaws, and the performance of radiographic work in connection with human teeth or jaws or the oral cavity;
  (ii) the giving of any anaesthetic in connection with any such operation or treatment;
  (iii) the mechanical construction or the renewal of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances;
  (iv) the performance of any operation on, or the giving of any treatment, advice or attendance to, any person preparatory to, or for the purpose of, or in connection with, the fitting, inserting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances, and the performance of any such operation and the giving of any such treatment, advice or attendance, as is usually performed or given by dentists;
  (e) "dentist" means a person who practises dentistry;
  (f) "medical practitioner" means a person who holds a qualification granted by an authority specified or notified under section 3 of the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 (7 of 1916), or specified in the Schedules to the 4[Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956),] 5[or specified in any other law for the time being in force in any State,] or who practises any system of medicine and is registered or is entitled to be registered in any 6[State] medical register by whatever name called;
  (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules or regulations made under this Act;
  (h) "1[State] Council" means a 1[State] Dental Council constituted under section 21, and includes a Joint 1[State] Council constituted in accordance with an agreement under section 22;
  (i) "register" means a register maintained under this Act;
  2[(j) "recognised dental qualification" means any of the qualifications included in the Schedule;]
  (k) "recognised dental hygiene qualification" means a qualification recognised by the Council under section 11;
  (l) "registered dentist", "registered dental hygienist" and "registered dental mechanic" shall mean, respectively, a person whose name is for the time being registered in a register of dentists, a register of dental hygienists and a register of dental mechanics.
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  1. The Act has been amended in:-
  West Bengal by West Bengal Act 26 of 1959, Madras by Madras A.O. 1961 and Orissa by Orissa Act 20 of 1972.
  The Act has been extended to:-
  Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Regulation 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule., Goa, Daman and Diu by Regulation 11 of 1963, s. 3 and the Schedule and comes into force in Pondicherry with modification by Regulation 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule. (w.e.f. 1-10-1963).
  2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "all the Provinces of India".
  3. The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 42 of 1972, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-11-1972).
  4. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for "Indian Medical Council Act, 1933 (27 of 1933)" (w.e.f. 1-11-1972).
  5. Ins. by Act 12 of 1955, s. 3.
  6. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "Provincial".