Dr. Jim Martin, a North Carolina orthodontist and Junior Director of the North Carolina Association of Orthodontists, is pictured with AAO attorney Trey Lawrence. The two provided public comments at the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners’ October 2018 hearing on proposed regulations concerning specialty advertising.
AAO attorney Trey Lawrence recently attended a hearing before the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners regarding specialty advertising regulations proposed by the North Carolina Board and provided comments on those proposed regulations.
Previously, the AAO had worked to persuade the Board to adopt proposed regulations regarding who may practice or advertise as specialists. Specifically, the AAO supports requirements that those practicing and/or advertising as “specialists” have completed a post-doctoral advanced dental education program of at least two full time-years, that is accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). After previously adopting proposed regulations that were a significant step in this direction, the North Carolina Board considered further revising the proposed regulation in October.
The proposal is to more specifically define which accrediting organizations or programs meet requirements for advertising or practicing as a “specialist.”
Thanks to the AAO Component Legal Support Fund, the Legal Department has been assisting North Carolina with this issue and is pleased to report that via the Board’s proposed revisions, AAO members’ concerns are being heard. Click here to view a copy of the letter the AAO submitted to the North Carolina Board in support of the proposed regulation.
You (as a citizen of and licensed dental provider in your state) have the right, independently and individually, to express your own opinions about public health and safety issues to your state dental board. If you feel so compelled, contact your state’s dental board to discuss such matters with them. Contact information for state dental boards can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info. *
Likewise, if you have patients who believe they have been injured or otherwise harmed by dental services or advertising, you can inform them about the process by which the patient can file a complaint with your state’s dental board, should they wish to do so.
If you are aware of a dental board hearing regarding orthodontics, please feel free to inform the AAO, by sending an email to [email protected].
* Reference and contact information also includes the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities.
