New Dental Practice Act Becomes Law This Month

by Gabe BullardAmong the legislation passed by the Kentucky General Assembly this year was an updated dental practice act, which will become law this month.The new act takes effect July 15th. After that, the Board of Dentistry has 180 days to revise and confirm the set of regulations that accompany the act.The regulations deal with various dental practice issues, including fees for practicing dentists. Board director Brian Bishop says patients will notice little affect from the new regulations."From a patient standpoint, you're probably not going to notice much of anything different, to be honest with you, because we haven't changed the practice of dentistry," he says. "We've only worked on the kinds of things dentists have to do for licensure and that kind of stuff."Several dentists voiced their concerns with the new regulations and fees in a series of meetings earlier this year, and public comments will be taken once more after the 15th. The Board of Dentistry is financed entirely by fees and fines.