LA State Board of Dentistry Updates

August 18, 2023, LSBD Meeting

Submitted by Dr. Glenn Dubroc
Examination Committee
Discussion of CRDTS examination (Central Regional Dental Testing Services): State Board wants further study before accepting CRDTS for examination. Board members will view the test in-person and report back. Please note that the American Association of Dental Boards will become known as the Federation of State Boards.

Licensing & Credentials Committee

Dental compact – created to offer portability and a smoother pathway for licensure across state lines. This issues does not fall within the purview of the State Board. However, the Louisiana Dental Association asked for the Board’s perspective and guidance.
7 states have now accepted the Dental Compact that was assembled by the Commission on State Governments. The Board is concerned that Louisiana would have to accept other states’ testing guidelines, some of which the Board feels do not meet the rigor our state desires currently for licensure. The Board also has concerns about an unelected commission having quasi-legislative authority in our state. The Board reports that this Commission could have authority to collect an annual assessment from each participating state and impose fees on licensees of participating states. Another Dental Compact was initiated about the same time as this current one, but did not quite have the momentum; thus, it has fallen behind in terms of its formation. It MAY have more stringent rules that could possibly be more appealing to the Louisiana State Board. At this time, the Board does not recommend that the LDA pursue legislation to adopt either of the Dental Compacts. Please see the accompanying document from the State Board (“New Dental Compact built by Dental Boards”).

Legislative Committee

The State Board seeks to designate one seat on the Board as a permanent seat for a pediatric dentist. The At-Large seat for slot B (there are 3 At-Large seats), currently occupied by Dr. Kimberly Caldwell, would be designated for the pediatric dentist. The Board would temporarily increase in size to 16 members until Dr. Caldwell is term-limited out. Upon Dr. Caldwell’s departure from the Board, the Board would return to its traditional size. This change to Board composition would require state legislation.
During the next Louisiana legislative session, the State Board seeks to re-instate its domicile in either Orleans or Jefferson Parish.
As regards La. 37:761, the Board voted to revise rule 1709 to increase the length of time a licensing exam is valid from 3 years to 5 years. This was to allow for the situation where an oral surgery resident has passed a licensing exam prior to his/her residency, but does not attempt to obtain a license immediately. As regards La. 37:793, the Board voted to change rule 1509 to make it clear that any dentist with a sedation permit can serve as a third-party anesthesia provider.
In both cases, the Department of Justice reviewed the proposed rule changes and indicated that the Board could not change these rules without having a statute change first. Thus, the Board will seek to enact statutory legislation at the next session.

Anesthesia Committee

Proposed change to continuing education requirements for those with sedation permits is to transition from the current 12 hours every 4 years to 6 hours every 2 years for both adult and pediatric sedation permits. This change does NOT have to go through the state legislature.

New Business

Board Christmas party will be Friday, December 8 at Acme Oyster House. Time TBA.
Because the dental school terminated its relationship with LSU CDE, the Louisiana Dental Association has been asked to provide the courses for (1) EDDA (Expanded Duty Dental Assistants) and (2) adult and pediatric sedation. The outline for the EDDA course was submitted to the Board. The Board approved for the LDA to proceed with the EDDA course.

March 10, 2023, LSBD Meeting

Licensing & Credentials Committee

The Board approved a recommendation from the Licensing & Credentials Committee to change the rule regarding the length of time a licensing exam is valid for obtaining a license in Louisiana. Forty-seven states allow the license to be valid up to five years. One state allows seven years, and two states allow three years. As voted on Friday, Louisiana will file a rule change to go from three years to five years for a valid licensing exam.

For those who did not renew their license, the Board voted on the revocation of dental and dental hygiene licenses due to non-payment.

Office Management Committee

The 2022 online renewal process went very smoothly, and the Board has been running at a surplus.

Rulemaking Committee
The Board approved a recommendation from this committee to file a change in rules to do away with the actual list of specialties and acknowledge someone as a specialist if they have done a two-year residency in a CODA accredited specialty.

It was also voted on to update the license rules regarding third party sedation to take out the words “oral surgeon” and replace them with a Louisiana licensed dentist with a permit for the appropriate level of sedation, making it clear that nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologists, and any Louisiana licensed dentist with a sedation permit may provide third party sedation in dental offices.