The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) has regulatory authority over licensed dentists, dental hygienist, registered dental assistants and dental laboratories in the State of Texas. Recently the TSBDE adopted new rules and rule amendments regarding general qualification for licensure, staggered registrations, and how complaints are investigated.
Recent Rule Changes for General Qualification for Licensure
The Board amended rules §101.1 for DDS’s and §103.1 for Registered Dental Hygienists to eliminate the requirement for good moral character but make it necessary that an applicant for licensure who is in violation of a board order at the time of application be ineligible for licensure.
These two changes are done in accordance with Texas Senate Bill 313. Under the amended rules an application for a license to practice dentistry must be at least 21 years of age, and present proof of graduation for an accredited dental school, or proof of graduation from a dental school not accredited along with “successful completion of training in an American Dental Association approved specialty in an education program accredited by the commission that consists of at least two years of training as specified by the Council on Dental Education.”
Under SB 313 an applicant to be a Registered Dental Hygienists must be at least 18 years of age, a graduate of an accredited high school or hold a certificate of high school equivalency, and be a graduate of a “recognized school of dentistry or dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and approved by the board or an alternative dental hygiene training program.”
Recent Rule Changes for Staggered Registration
The Board amended the rules concerning staggered registration for dentists and dental hygienists. All of the Board’s licenses will now be renewed on a two-year cycle.
The initial staggered dental license or dental hygienist license registration periods “will range from 18 months to 30 months” and will be determined by the licensee’s birth month, and will be prorated according to the number of months of the initial license period. 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 101.5. After the initial period, the license will be renewed every two years.
Recent Rule Changes for How Complaints are Investigated
The TSBDE amended rule 107.104 concerning the investigation of complaints. The new rule gives the Board more flexibility in handling complaints and investigations. The amended rule eliminates prior examples of cases that would fall within each category. Board staff shall classify each filed complaint into one or more of the following allegation categories: standard of care violation, sanitation, dishonorable conduct, administrative failure, business promotion, practice of dentistry without a license, or non-compliance with an Order or Remedial Plan issue by the Board. The amended rule eliminates the requirement that changes to the above categories be made by the dental director or the director of investigations.
Click to contact our professional license defense lawyers today
Dental License Defense Attorneys in Texas
If you are under investigation by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, we urge you to seek the advice of an experienced Dental license defense attorney.
Talk to an experienced attorney who understands all aspects of a Dental and Dental Hygienist license complaint case. The lawyers at BERTOLINO LLP know how to carefully research every potential complaint. We know where to look for evidence and how to use that information to build a successful legal strategy.
If you are facing disciplinary action from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
BERTOLINO LLP proudly represents licensed professionals across the entire State of Texas. To best serve our clients we have offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
Follow BERTOLINO LLP on Facebook!
View free videos & subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Get a copy of Tony R. Bertolino’s #1 Bestselling book When Your License is Under Attack: A Survival Guide for Texas Professionals in hardcover or for Kindle here.
Call or text (512) 476-5757 or complete a Case Evaluation form
