News Releases & Legislative Information

TSBDE Rule Update

During the April 15, 2011, Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) meeting, the TSBDE adopted new sedation and anesthesia rules Chapter 110 — 22 TAC §§110.1 -110.9. The TSBDE worked on updating the rules through its Anesthesia Rules Ad-Hoc Committee which convened in 2009. The new rules are in accordance with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) sedation guidelines adopted by the ADA House of Delegates in 2007. The following information is taken from the TSBDE’s explanation of the new rules.

The new rules consolidate sedation and anesthesia rules previously found in §§108.30 -108.35 and Chapter 110, Enteral Sedation. The most significant change from the previous rules includes the levels of anesthesia and sedation permitting. The permitting process now emphasizes the patient’s level of sedation rather than the route of medication administration. The new rules establish five levels of anesthesia and sedation permits beyond the standard dental license: Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Inhalation Sedation; Level 1: Minimal Sedation; Level 2: Moderate Sedation (enteral sedation); Level 3: Moderate Sedation (parenteral sedation); and Level 4: Deep Sedation or General Anesthesia.

The new rules will become effective June 1, 2011, and most levels of permitting will change in name only. Licensed dentists who lack sedation permits may continue to utilize local anesthetic and prescribe minor tranquilizers for anxiolysis. A licensed dentist who holds an active Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Inhalation Conscious Sedation permit, Parenteral Sedation permit, or Deep Sedation or General Anesthesia permit on or before June 1, 2011, will have their permit automatically reclassified as a Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Inhalation Sedation permit, Level 3 permit, and Level 4 permit, respectively, on June 1, 2011.

For more information, please contact TDA policy manager Ms. Diane Rhodes at (512) 443-3675, diane@tda.org.

Reproduced Courtesy of TDA Today.

Senate approves Form 1099 relief measure

On Thursday, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on final passage of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, which repeals the new Form 1099 tax reporting requirement. Inserted as a revenue measure in the health care reform law, the 1099 provision requires that businesses report to the IRS payments made to any vendor after Dec. 31, 2011, that exceed $600 a year.

The American Dental Association is concerned that these new reporting requirements will unnecessarily increase the cost of providing dental care to our patients. For more information, visit http://www.ada.org/news/5300.aspx.

American Dental Association Examines the Role of Adequate Workforce in Breaking Down Barriers to Oral Health

The American Dental Association (ADA) today released the first in a series of papers examining the challenges and solutions to bringing good oral health to the millions of Americans—including as many as one-quarter of the nation’s children—who lack access to dental care, many of them suffering with untreated disease. The paper focuses on workforce, an umbrella term for the numbers, location and makeup of the teams comprising dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and other existing and proposed providers.
To read the complete story, visit http://www.ada.org/52.aspx.

Latest from FDA on Acetaminophen

The FDA has released new information regarding over-the-counter and prescription forms of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and acetaminophen combination drug products. The information can be accessed at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm239747.htm

Dental Federal & State Legislative Issues

To stay on top of federal issues that affect dentistry and the public’s oral health, the ADA maintains a staff of legislative and policy experts on Capitol Hill. Many other critical issues are decided by legislators and regulators at the state level. Although the ADA does not lobby at the state level, the organization provides resources and lends its expertise to help constituent associations create and effectively pursue their own policy agendas.

For more information on the legislative and regulatory issues and actions, click on the link provided: http://www.ada.org/2036.aspx

FTC Delays Red Flag Rule Enforcement

The Red Flag Rule is intended to protect consumers from identity theft. The ADA has worked with lawmakers in both the House and Senate to draft legislation that would exempt various small businesses, including dental practices, from the rule. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 28 that it has further delayed enforcement of its Red Flags Rule until Jan. 1, 2011. The delay is intended to give Congress time to pass legislation that would permanently exclude certain small businesses, including dental practices, from the rule.

For more information, click on the link: http://www.ada.org/3742.aspx

Study Reviews BPA; Assesses Exposure from Dental Materials

BPA is a synthetic chemical resin used in plastics. In dentistry, its derivatives—bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate and bisphenol A dimethacrylate—can be found in resin-based dental sealants and composites. The exposure to BPA from sealants is about 200 times lower than the level EPA considers safe.

For more information, click on the link: http://www.ada.org /1766.aspx

ADA Statement on the New FDA Panel Reviewing Amalgam Safety

Dental amalgam is a combination of mercury and other metals such as silver, copper and tin. Numerous scientific studies have indicated that dental amalgam is a safe, effective option for treating dental decay.

Click the following link to read the ADA’s response to the FDA decision: http://www.ada.org/4290.aspx