State Board of Dentistry Meeting
Meeting Summary
June 7, 2013
Prosecutorial Report
 A dentist failed to complete five hours of anesthesia/sedation continuing education (CE)
courses. He received a $375 fine and the violation was placed on his record. The dentist
has since taken the course and must take additional related courses every licensure
cycle.
 In April, a dentist’s license was temporarily suspended and her office closed due to
alleged violations of the Centers for Disease Control’s infection control guidelines.
The prosecutor also noted a separate incident where she failed to report two DUI
convictions on her 2013 licensure renewal application. Remedial measures are being
taken to address her infection control violations and the Department of Health is taking
steps to notify patients that they need tested for several communicable diseases. The
consent agreement includes requiring that she take a 20-hour infection control CE
course, an additional 8 hours of CE on infection control on an biannual basis,
consultation with an infection control specialist, written office policy on handling
infractions, among other things. Her license will remain on suspension for a minimum of
five years.
Regulatory Update
 Licensure Fees: Ms. Cynthia Montgomery, Regulatory Counsel, reported that the House
and Senate licensure committees, as well as the Independent Regulatory Review
Commission, requested that the board submit more specific information about its
finances in order to substantiate the draft regulations to raise licensure and certification
fees.
 Botox/Dermal Fillers: Counsel is waiting for another draft by the Scope of Practice
Committee that will provide a definition of “associated structures” of the teeth and jaw,
so that dentists know in what areas of the head it is permissible to administer botox and
dermal fillers.
 Counsel is updating the board’s regulations pertaining to reporting child abuse and the
issuance of volunteer licenses, to reflect laws recently enacted by the General Assembly.
 Council conducted a thorough review of the board’s existing regulations to determine
where updates are unnecessary. The following recommendations were made:
o Update the policy statement on use of lasers.
o Update advertising regulations to include all ADA-recognized specialties and
advertising for corporations.
o Update anesthesia regulations to include newly-approved peer review
organizations. The regulations should also clarify whether permits are
needed to administer oral sedatives.
o Propose regulations recognizing the law requiring patient identification on
most dental appliances and dentures.
o Update regulations to provide mechanism for the board to rescind an
individual’s radiology certificate when a violation has occurred.
o Update CE regulations to include a deadline for which individuals may apply
for waivers. The board should also update the approved program sponsor
list.
o Propose regulations implementing the new legislation requiring malpractice
insurance.
o Consider amending regulations to allow public health dental hygienists to
supervise EFDAs and dental assistants.
Committee Reports
 EFDA Committee: The committee has received five to six applications from existing
EFDA programs for approval and is the process of developing protocol for determining
whether these programs are in compliance with the new program standard regulations.
 Practice Ownership Committee: The committee is revising draft regulations on mobile
dentistry and hopes to present a second draft to the board at its July meeting.
 Regulatory Review Committee: Dr. Deem reported on the introduction of HB 1446,
which would restore $150,000 in state funding to help operate the Donated Dental
Services program in Pennsylvania.
 Scope of Practice Committee: The committee hopes to have a final draft policy
statement on administering botox and dermal fillers for the board to review as its July
meeting.
MOM-N-PA Update
Dr. Bernie Dishler, former PDA president, updated the board on the successful MOM-n-PA free
dental clinic held in Philadelphia on May 31 and June 1.
Next Meeting Date: July 19, 2013