The Academy of General Dentistry and the Minnesota Academy of General Dentistry have raised concerns with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry about a proposal to expand the scope of practice for dental therapists.
Four notes:
1. One proposed change would allow dental therapists to place and remove sutures, instead of only removing sutures.
2. The AGD and the MAGD said in response to the first proposal that improper suturing or relining can lead to compromised healing, excessive bleeding, tissue damage, and the need for corrective treatment.
3. The second proposal would allow dental therapists to manage surgical complications, which the two organizations said require advanced clinical judgment and training.
4. The groups urged the state dental board to consider patient safety implications and reject the proposals, according to a Jan. 13 news release.
