Georgia legislators have passed a bill that will require patients to complete an in-person exam before undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 567 to regulate teledentistry May 9. In addition to requiring in-person exams, the bill also authorizes dentists to offer teledentistry only if they have a physical office in the state and have established a referral relationship with another dentist who practices dentistry at a physical office in the state.
The bill’s passage was the result of advocacy from the American Association of Orthodontists, the Georgia Association of Orthodontists and the Georgia Dental Association.
The new law will go into effect Jan. 1.
Georgia is now the sixth state to pass such legislation, following Nevada, Florida, Illinois, Utah and West Virginia.
