Final answer:
State dental practice acts are state-level laws that regulate the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene, falling under the category of public laws that affect the general public.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state dental practice act is state-level legislation passed by legislature, that controls the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene. This type of law falls under the category of public laws, which are designed to address the problems within society by providing guidelines and regulations that affect the general public. Similar to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which impacted the health care system in the United States, state dental practice acts regulate healthcare practices specific to dentistry and dental hygiene ensuring that practitioners meet the requirements to provide safe and professional care to patients.