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As the Dental Board of California continues to navigate its first full renewal cycle for the newly established anesthesia and sedation permits, two new implementation issues have been identified for the moderate sedation permit and have prompted CDA advocacy.

Dentists and other health care practitioners in California who issue 100 or fewer prescriptions in a calendar year could receive an exemption from the state’s existing law requiring practitioners to electronically prescribe all medications. 

Changes in continuing education regulations are coming for California dentists beginning Jan. 1, 2023, including mandated C.E. that covers the responsibilities and requirements of prescribing Schedule II opioid drugs. 
 

Updated Sept. 1, 2022: California-licensed dentists can now apply for the new general anesthesia/deep sedation, moderate sedation and pediatric minimal sedation permits through the dental board's online licensing system BreEZe. 

California dentists can take a new online course that meets the requirements for opioid use disorder training for licensure. “Responsibilities and Requirements for Prescribing Controlled Substances (Schedule II Opioid Drugs),” is eligible for 2 units of C.E. and is available to CDA members for a substantially discounted price. 

CDA reminds dentists that the California Dental Practice Act permits the use of Botox only when used as part of a comprehensive dental treatment plan and for one of the purposes defined in section 1625 of the state’s Business and Professions Code. 

A scam targeting dentists is flaring up again. CDA Practice Support heard last week from a member dentist whose associate received a call from a fraudster posing as a California dental board official. The caller told the associate her dental license had been suspended for suspicious drug activity in Texas and Mexico.  

The California Department of Consumer Affairs on Jan. 11 reinstated a waiver that temporarily lets dental professionals in California count recorded lectures as live continuing education as long as the courses are web-based and allow participants to interact with the presenter in real time.

A new year means updated regulations for California dentists to follow. It also means guidance and new resources from CDA. Members are invited to take CDA's newest Practice Health Check to gauge their compliance with regulations as the new year begins.