On July 23, Governor Roy Cooper signed into a law a Senate Bill 146 to establish standards for use of teledentistry in North Carolina. The new law intends to use teledentistry in a productive way to expand basic oral health care, specifically preventative care, to patients in areas where there are shortages of dentists; to underserved communities and children; and to the aging. The law also establishes standards for the practice of dentistry that make it possible for dental hygienists to work in some public schools, federally qualified health care centers, special-needs facilities, and some elder-care facilities.
AAO supports several provisions in the law, including requirements that the North Carolina licensed dentist disclose his or her identity, applicable credentials, and contact information, including a current phone number and mailing address of his or her practice in addition to providing the patient with contact information for the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners and a description of, or link to, the patient complaint process. The law also allows the Dental Board to take disciplinary action against any licensed dentist who has allowed fee-splitting for the use of teledentistry services or limited, in any way, a patient’s right or ability to raise grievances or file complaints with any appropriate oversight body, including the Dental Board and the North Carolina Department of Justice.
During an in-person examination prior to orthodontic treatment, an orthodontist may identify and plan for additional oral health issues to be addressed. Through this law’s expansion of preventative care to underserved communities, patients are able to potentially save time and reduce costs, if other oral health issues are prevented or addressed prior to seeking orthodontic treatment.
The AAO applauds the North Carolina legislators, as well as the North Carolina Dental Society, the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative, and the UNC Adams School of Dentistry for advocating for this important legislation and including key provisions that provide an opportunity to utilize technology in a positive way and expands access to care while maintaining the standard of care that protects the health and safety of North Carolina patients.
