Here are 10 notable dental industry updates that have taken place in Virginia so far this year:
1. Virginia legislators are considering placing an annual spending limit on Medicaid dental services.
2. Dental leaders are considering alternative ways to bring more dental assistants into the state after one of only two dental assistant programs in the state paused its enrollment.
3. The Virginia Board of Dentistry denied a request to reinstate the license of a dentist who was convicted of taking part in an opioid fraud scheme.
4. Farmville (Va.) Dental reopened months after a fire damaged its building.
5. The state enacted two staffing bills related to dental assistants and hygienists.
6. A mistrial was declared in the trial for a Virginia woman charged with practicing unlicensed dentistry.
7. Phoenix-based Salt Dental Partners added Hampton Oral & Facial Surgery to its network.
8. Great Neck, N.Y.-based The Smilist added its first Virginia practice.
9. A Virginia dentist attended President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to draw attention to challenges facing dental providers.
10. Free and charitable clinics throughout Virginia, including those providing dental care, are advocating for additional funding in light of legislative changes.
