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Oct 25, 2023

What if Dentistry Was Disorganized?

This editorial from 1931, written at the front end of the Great Depression, gives us much to contemplate.1 After all, as members of the dental profession, we continue to have a public to serve emerging from the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are entrusted by society with the right to self-regulate.

Oct 25, 2023

Pain, Pills and New Perceptions

The beauty of dentistry and medicine, in general, is the ever-present evolution and growth of evidence-based practices guided by novel understanding. The advancement of knowledge allows our “practice” of the healing arts, to be refined continuously to better serve our patients and customize treatment modalities for maximized efficacy in rendering patient care.

Check Your Team Members’ Licenses and Registrations

May 17, 2022
We wanted to remind our members to check that your team members’ licenses and registrations are current. 

The dentist is responsible for all delegated acts performed by dental hygienists and dental assistants under their direction. This includes ensuring that the dental hygienists and registered dental assistants obtain and maintain current licenses and registrations.
 
  • Dental assistants taking patient x-rays must hold a current registration from the TSBDE.
  • Dental hygienists and Registered Dental Assistants monitoring nitrous oxide must have a specific N20 monitoring designation issued by the TSBDE. 
  • Dentists cannot delegate coronal polishing or pit & fissure sealants to dental assistants unless the dental assistant completed the required education and training prior to the delegation. Dentists are responsible for verifying that the dental assistant has at least 2 years’ experience, current basic life support, and completed the required 8 hours didactic and clinical education in coronal polishing and/or pit and fissure sealants prior to delegating those procedures. 
Click here to check a hygiene license. 
Click here to check a dental assistant registration.

Dentists must perform ongoing due diligence to ensure that all team members working in the dentist’s practice remain in compliance with the TSBDE’s license and registration requirements. 

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NOTE: Early voting starts today and goes through Friday for the primary runoff. Election day is May 24. There are 7 statewide races on the ballot, 2 Texas Senate races, and 23 Texas House races. Please vote! For information on who represents you and elections in your area, visit https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2022/texas-runoff-2022-ballot-may-24/.