All of us on the Board of Dentistry are focused on, and share the same noble goal, to “Protect the Public.” We stand selflessly together, united in this effort.
Practitioners retain absolute autonomy to use any and all diagnostic modalities available, including radiographs, coupled with honest communication with their patients, thereby evoking the patient’s trust of being provided with competent healthcare.
There is no law or board rule in Florida that requires taking radiographs. The number or type of radiographs utilized depends solely on the decisions and choices of the practitioner depending on the
individual needs of the specific patient. The Board Office and staff are inundated with calls from patients about radiographs and “just cleanings.” The Board has discussed the published “ADA guidelines on radiography” as an accepted parameter. Radiographs have to be of diagnostic quality, and the practitioner should abort developing a treatment recommendation, in the absence of radiographs.
“Just cleanings” is what an individual does in the privacy of their own home with a toothbrush. Dentists and dental hygienists diagnose and provide competent oral therapies, not limited to surgery and maintenance, to treat chronic and/or acute life-threatening oral infections.
I renew my cordial invitation to all of you to attend a future public meeting of the Florida Board of Dentistry. It is a great way to earn four (4) free hours of continuing dental education credits per biennium, and to stay abreast of the changes in our profession. I assure you that 2014 is continuing to be the best year yet!!
May God continue to bless all of you,
Joe
