Dear Board,

It is apparant from Board meetings that some dental practices do not follow the law. They use the excuse of not knowing the law. These dental practices need to be educated not tested.

Routine testing on the laws of dentistry does not insure dentists understand the laws. It only insures they took the test and passed the test. It will be equivalent to the standard of learning tests in education. Dentists will study quickly or use open book if allowed to most efficiently pass the exam. They will not remember or actually use the material in a beneficial way. 

I suggest bringing back the old system when all dentists were educated with a newsletter which informed dentists on all the reprimands, penalties, fines or loss of license in any given period. This type of education is not forgotten when dentists see what actually occurs when the law is not followed. 

When the newsletter was distributed, our office would key on the information. All staff would read it and pass it around to be certain we were not violating any laws. It was extremely effective. I do not remember if the newsletter listed names but it would work with names or without.

I assume a law test would mean another unnecessary fee for dentists. It would also allow the Board of Dentistry to say "You took the test and passed. You should have known better." 

The more effective way to get dentist to do the right thing would be to educate them on what dentists are doing wrong. Please send us a newsletter. Don't give us more unnecessary requirements and charge us more fees.