TDMR has reported on the recent petition to Gov. Abbott regarding teledentistry from a San Antonio dentist.
The topic might have been brought up at the TSBDE board meeting this past Friday. However, technical difficulties with the webcast, we don’t know what happened.
Regardless, the TSBDE had already addressed the issue on its website although the response was buried in its COVID 19 content.
There are apparently regulatory hurdles that need to be surmounted before teledentistry can move forward.
Here is the TSBDE information.
Additionally, TSBDE has received several questions related to teledentistry. Dentists in Texas are not authorized to practice teledentistry because of established legal requirements such as Rule 108.8(c)(2)(C), which requires “documentation of the findings of a tactile and visual examination of the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity.” Remember, teledentistry is regulated by state statute and board rule, not associational recommendations. Please note – Texas currently does not have any rules that would permit teledentistry.
The State Board has the power to CHANGE the rules. Unless “visual and tactile exam” is written in statute, their statement of the issue of why it cannot be done is a smokescreen.
Let me understand. Telemedicine is ok. Drinks to go at restaurants is ok. Teledentistry NOT ok? Why?