dental license

Dentist Loses License for Unnecessary Dental Fillings

January 19, 2010 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

A dentist who tricked patients into getting expensive and unnecessary dental work has been banned from practice by UK's General Dental Council.

Dr. Constantine Saridakis had previously paid a hefty amount for unneeded dental fillings performed before 2007. He was suspended from treating NHS patients in 2008, but did anyway, altering patient records to cover it up.

'The committee considered suspension of your registration," said the chair at Dr. Saridakis's hearing, "but concluded that a period of suspension would not sufficiently protect the public in future."

In multiple cases, the doctor recommended multiple fillings (as many as 10) on patients whose charts did not indicate any tooth decay. His partner provided a second opinion on some cases, often finding no evidence of decay.

When confronted by his partner, Dr. Saridakis allegedly replied, "Sometimes I'm preventative, and sometimes I'm in a money-making mood."

Filed Under: Dental News Tagged With: Dental Care, dental fillings, dental license, dental work, dentist fraud, dentistry, fillings, UK dentist

Dentists Want a Dental License That’s National

September 22, 2009 By Julie Frey 10 Comments

Dentists can be chained to their state by their dental license. In this survey, 86% said they want universal licensure for dentists, while only 14% think things should stay as they are.

“If we manage to graduate from an accredited school, what is the big deal besides regional politics?” asked one dentist.

(Check out this week's article on getting a dental license)

We got a huge number of responses to the question of national reciprocity. Dentists have a lot to say on the subject!

“Not all state boards are equal. Some states are too easy.” (Mississippi dentist)
“Dental school accreditation is national. If a dentist graduates from an accredited school, it makes sense that he should be eligible to practice nationally. On the other hand, this is a further erosion of states' rights, and that is also cause for concern.” (California dentist)”Greater freedom never fails to produce better results.” (California dentist)
“Make credentialed dentists as free to move around in the States as anyone else. That's what America is all about!” (Retired dentist)
"It's a huge expense and paperwork nightmare to try to get credentials in other states.” (Texas dentist)
“It won't happen in my lifetime.” (General dentist)
“Reciprocity by licensure is logical. Multiple board exams is not – certainly not with the mobility we have today.” (New York dentist)
“I believe the United States should have one national board exam and thereby granting a license to practice anywhere in the US. It just makes sense.” (Nevada dentist)
“This is my number one gripe against the ADA. I WILL NEVER BELONG TO THE ADA WITHOUT NATIONAL RECIPROCITY.” (Indiana dentist)
“National licensing is way past due.” (New York dental anesthesiologist)
“A dentist should have a least 5 years practice in good standing prior to being able move from their home state. Just makes sense.” (Kentucky dentist)
“Teeth are teeth, so state restriction is just a violation of free trade. MONOPOLY!!!” (Pennsylvania dentist)
“The physicians have had this for years. We as dentists are way behind on this one.” (California dentist)
“Restriction of the ability to practice anywhere is just selfish and wrong.” (Pennsylvania dentist)

Dental Licenses: It’s Not Easy To Be a Dentist!

September 22, 2009 By Jim Du Molin 6 Comments

My recent survey about national licensure for dentists got a huge response. Of the hundreds of dentists who responded, fully 86% want universal licensure or national reciprocity. And when you look at how dental licenses are granted, it's hard not to see their point.

"Barbers, Beauticians and Dentists are the only people who have state licensure exams where they have to demonstrate clinical skills," pointed out an oral surgeon. "For all other doctors, it is assumed that by the time you graduate from school, you already know how to do a filling."

Dentists are envious of the flexibility physicians have. "I find it hard to believe that an MD can get a license to practice medicine in any state, and, for example, an appendectomy performed in New York is considered an equivalent procedure to one performed in California. Yet somehow, a two-surface restoration is different depending on in what state the procedure is performed," said an orthodontist. "Universal licensure, universal standards, universal education. What's so hard about getting that?!"

I must admit, I'm a little baffled by the dental licensing process. So I did a little research… and I only got more confused!

Getting a dental license in the US requires three things:

graduating from an ADA accredited dental school,
passing a written exam, and
passing a clinical exam.

The clinical exam is the controversial part. First of all, many don't think it's even an appropriate requirement. New York actually requires a one-year residency instead of an exam, and a few other states let applicants complete either an exam or a residency.

While prospective dentists across the country take the same written exams (National Board Exams I & II), clinical testing is theoretically done on a state-by-state basis. In reality, almost all states are part of regional testing agencies that administer the exams. There are five such agencies, four of which were founded in the 1970's. This map shows how these regions break down. (Source: ADA)

The lack of a standardized clinical examination is what make the dental licensing process so difficult. And the fact that candidates treat live patients as part of the exam is what makes dental licensing so unique.

An increasing number of states are accepting clinical exams from multiple testing agencies. This gives a new dentist more flexibility in choosing where to practice.

Confused yet?

State dental boards license and discipline dentists.
Regional testing agencies (also known as clinical testing agencies or regional boards) are independent non-profit corporations that contract with individual state dental boards to provide clinical examinations.
Licensure by reciprocity happens when two state boards formally agree that they will both honor licenses granted by the other. This is less common than licensing via credentials.
Licensure by credentials (also known as licensure by recognition or licensure by reciprocity endorsement) is when a state's dental board grants a license to a dentist who is currently licensed in another state and has practiced for a certain amount of time (normally 5 years). Currently, 46 states offer licensure by credentials – all but Delaware, Florida, Nevada, and Hawaii.
Mutual recognition means that passing one testing agency's clinical exam is essentially equivalent to passing that of another dental testing agency.

In 2004, the American Association of Dental Examiners (AADE) agreed that there should be a standardized national clinical exam, and created the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) to do just that. Currently, 40 states accept the results of the ADEX exam.

So, while things are moving in the right direction, it doesn't seem likely that we'll see universal licensure for dentists in the US anytime soon.

Filed Under: Dental Editorials Tagged With: dental license

Dental Licenses for Convicted Sex Offenders?!?

February 28, 2009 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

A Michigan dentist convicted of raping a patient is practicing again. The state is considering new legislation that would prevent health care workers convicted of sex crimes from having their licenses reinstated.

In 2007 the Michigan Board of Dentists approved a restricted dental license for a dentist convicted of raping a patient.

The dentist in question served one year in jail after drugging and sexually assaulting a female patient. Horrified to learn that such a dentist was allowed to practice again, two lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to prevent this from happening again.

Read more…

Filed Under: Dental News Tagged With: dental license, Michigan

Getting One Step Closer to Universal Licensure for Dentists

January 25, 2009 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

Health Access Dental License Florida's governor hopes to increase access to dental care among underserved populations.

How does he hope to accomplish this? By allowing out-of-state dentists to perform dentistry in health access settings (state clinics, federal health centers, educational institutions, etc.). So on January 1, a new license was created in Florida: the health access dental license.

This license allows dentists not licensed in Florida to practice there without getting a full Florida dental license. To be eligible, dentists must have been actively practicing for at least the past five years or since graduating from dental school.

Many dentists will be delighted to have the opportunity to practice in Florida. Most dentists are licensed by state, so it can be difficult for doctors to practice elsewhere. Since Florida is a much sought-after retirement destination, many dentists wish they could head to the Sunshine State for a semi-working retirement. But licensing requirements have kept them away.

Here's how the application begins:

"Health access settings" means programs and institutions of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, nonprofit community health centers, Head Start centers, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC look-alikes as defined by federal law, and clinics operated by accredited colleges of dentistry in this state if such community service programs and institutions immediately report to the Board of Dentistry all violations of s. 466.027, s. 466.028, or other practice act or standard of care violations related to the actions or inactions of a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant engaged in the delivery of dental care in such settings.

Read Florida’s licensing requirements