Download January 20, 2017

State Board of Dentistry
Meeting Summary
January 20, 2017
Prosecutorial Report
 A dental hygienist has a dependency problem. Consent agreement: hygienist agrees to
enroll in the Voluntary Recovery Program for three years.
 An unlicensed individual from the Amish community was manufacturing and placing
dentures. Consent agreement: a cease and desist order and reimbursment for the cost of
investigation.
 A dentist was charged with seven violations of standards of care. Consent agreement:
dentist voluntary gives up his license.
 An expanded function dental assistant (EFDA) practiced outside the scope of practice.
Consent agreement: indefinite suspension of her certificate, formal reprimand, $1,000
penalty and 10 hours of continuing education. Her employer was reprimanded and paid
a $5,000 fine.
Board Counsel Report
 The board was given recusal guidelines and information about the Sunshine Act.
Board Chair Report
 Dr. John Erhard reported that he and Ms. Mariellen Bickley-Raab attended the
Commission on Dental Competency Assessments’ (CDCA) board meeting. CDCA
administers the ADEX exam, one of the dental licensure examinations accepted by the
SBOD. Dr. Erhard serves on a steering committee that disciplines hearing examiners
when they commit infractions. The CDCA board discussed:
o Anesthesia regulations.
o Which dental team members can scan impressions.
o Mid-level providers.
o Teledentistry.
Commissioner Report
 Commissioner Harlow reported that the SBOD will send licensure renewal notices the
week of January 23. There was a delay in sending these notices due to having to wait for
the Department of Health to submit its survey for hygienists and dentists to complete.
 Act 124 of 2016 requires most dentists to obtain two hours of continuing education in
opioid-related courses. The SBOD is issuing a Request-for-Proposal to develop
curriculum before approving CE providers.
Committee Reports
EFDA Committee: A board member asked if the SBOD could use the CDCA’s clinical EFDA
exam to certify EFDAs. Board counsel replied that the Dental Practice Act would need amended
in order to require that EFDAs take a clinical examination.
Licensure Committee: Ms. Mariellen Brickley-Raab reported that the committee is
contemplating a recommendation to increase the CE credit requirement for dentists, now that
the legislature has enacted laws requiring CE in child abuse and opioids. The committee is also
researching how it can ensure that CE providers are offering more interactive and evidencebased CE.
Newsletter: Ms. Fowler reported that she will begin producing the newsletter quarterly,
beginning in the spring. The spring edition will include articles on Act 124 of 2016, EFDA
education and training, and biographies of new members.
Practice Ownership Committee: No report.
Regulations and Legislative Review Committee: Dr. Ivan Lugo reported that the
committee met prior to the board meeting to discuss regulations expanding the locations in
which public health dental hygienists (PHDHPs) may practice to include private settings of
homebound and hospice patients; primary care settings; and, childcare settings. All
stakeholders, including PDA and the PA Academy of General Dentistry, had the opportunity to
comment on issues such as patient safety, infection control the need to use evidence-based
solutions. There will be opportunities in the future in which stakeholders may offer feedback
and scientific literature on all drafts of the regulations before they are enacted.
Scope of Practice Committee: No report.
Next meeting date: March 17, 2017