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CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
August 19, 2015
The Honorable Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
State Capitol, Room 2176
Sacramento, CA 94249-0054
Delivered by Electronic Mail
Re:
AB 880 (Ridley-Thomas)
SUPPORT
Dear Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas:
The California Society of Pediatric Dentistry (CSPD) is in support of the passage of AB 880, as
amended August 18, 2015, which would permit the provision of dental services by a final year
dental student, without compensation, in a specified free clinic or health fair setting under the
direct and appropriate level of supervision by a dental school faculty member no less stringent
than that which the school requires in its own clinics and satellite facilities. We applaud the
volunteer efforts of the members of our profession in providing oral health services without cost
to underserved populations and we strongly support the increased clinical experience this
legislation provides for students enrolled in a California Dental School.
The amendments to AB 880 provide the necessary clarity of student supervision, liability
protection, patient disclosure, and op-out provisions for the patient or the patient’s parent or
guardian that merit our full support of the measure.
We are confident that AB 880 will result in increased care for disadvantaged adult and child
populations, better oral health outcomes for adults and children in California, and better
experienced dental students upon graduation and application for licensure.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Director Andrew Soderstrom, DDS
1215 K Street, Suite 940, Sacramento, CA 95814 / p: 916.231.2142 / f: 916.231.2141 / admin@cspd.org
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CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
CSPD is the professional membership organization of California’s over 700 pediatric dental
providers, educators and researchers. Our members provide primary and specialty oral health
care to infants, children and adolescents, with a mission of serving our members and the public
by advocating for the optimal oral health of infants, children and adolescents. We are the state
unit of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and have been active in state oral health
advocacy since our founding in 1975. Our members provide nearly a third of all pediatric oral
health services in the state and are even more highly involved in services to the very young and
to patients with disabilities and special health care needs.
Sharine Thenard, DDS
President
California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
cc:
Paul Reggiardo, DDS
Public Policy Advocate
California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
Oral and Facial Surgeons of California
Officers and Directors, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Andrew Soderstrom, Executive Director, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Director Andrew Soderstrom, DDS
1215 K Street, Suite 940, Sacramento, CA 95814 / p: 916.231.2142 / f: 916.231.2141 / admin@cspd.org