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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 9, May 11, 2021

ADEA Advocacy in Action

This appears weekly in the ADEA Advocate to summarize and provide direct links to recent advocacy actions taken by ADEA. Please let us know what you think and how we might improve its usefulness.

 

Issues and Resources

  • NHSC Service Loan Repayment Program and application
  • ADEA regarding vaccines at the state level
  • ADEA on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
  • ADEA policy regarding overprescription of antibiotics
  • For a full list of ADEA memos and letters click .
CDC Releases COVID-19 Updated Guidance

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released two COVID-19-related over the past two weeks and is expected to release more in the coming weeks. The CDC updated its guidance on daily activities and going outside. Most noticeably, the CDC now allows fully vaccinated people to not wear masks outside, except when around large groups. Those who are unvaccinated are still required to wear masks.

 

Also, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resuming the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. The resumption of use, however, comes with a warning about a rare but serious adverse event occurring primarily in women: blood clots in large vessels accompanied by a low platelet count. The decision to resume use of the vaccine came after a new review of the data. The agencies found that only 3% of vaccine reactions of the total 17 incidents were classified as serious. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is considered a game-changer due to it single dose usage and its overall high efficacy rate of 66%.

 

Finally, in the upcoming weeks, expect a ruling by the FDA and CDC regarding the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12-15.

FDA Plans to Ban Menthol Cigarettes

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that within the next year, it will ban menthol in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors in cigars as well. African Americans are the largest percentage of menthol cigarettes users.

 

Citing the general harm of cigarette smoking and in particular, its impact on health disparities, Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock stated, “with these actions, the FDA will help significantly reduce youth initiation, increase the chances of smoking cessation among current smokers and address health disparities experienced by communities of color, low-income populations and LGBTQ+ individuals, all of whom are far more likely to use these tobacco products.”

 

Both the Biden administration and the FDA stressed that the ban would only be applicable to manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers and that it will not be enforced against “individual consumer possession or use of menthol cigarettes or any tobacco product.” This issue was stressed to quell the concerns of the Congressional Black Caucus and civil rights organizations who see the banning of menthol as a social justice issue. They believe the ban could lead to increased harassment of African Americans by the police for the possession or use of menthol products.

ADEA Releases Summary of Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Dental Schools

 

ADEA has released “,” a policy research summary report as the third issue of the ADEA Policy Research Series. This summary report showcases the impact of the pandemic on patient visits in dental school clinics as well as the impact on dental schools’ budgets, personnel changes and infrastructure investments made to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These key findings were captured by the ADEA COVID-19 Impact Survey of U.S. Dental Schools survey conducted between November 2020 and January 2021.
Michigan Bill Would Allow Board of Dentistry to Grant More Specialty Licenses

 

On April 29, the Michigan Legislature sent a to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) that would expand the Michigan Board of Dentistry’s authority to grant specialty licenses. Under the bill, the Board of Dentistry would be permitted to grant a specialty field license to a licensed dentist who has advanced training beyond that required for initial licensure and who has demonstrated competency through examination or other evaluative processes. Those licensed dentists include:

  • An oral and maxillofacial radiologist,
  • A dental anesthesiologist,
  • An oral medicine doctor,
  • A public health dentist and
  • An orofacial pain specialist.

The Board of Dentistry is currently permitted to issue specialty licenses for prosthodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and oral pathology.
Oklahoma Passes Universal Licensure Bill

 

On April 28, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed the . The new law is similar to recently enacted laws in other states as it requires licensing boards to grant a license to residents of the state as well as members of the military and their spouses who have held a license from another jurisdiction for at least one year that is in good standing.

 

It should be noted, however, that this recently signed bill does require a person who is applying for this type of licensure reciprocity to have passed an examination that is already accepted by the state’s licensing board, or an equivalent or substantially similar examination as determined by the licensing board. While Oklahoma currently , the state does not currently accept . At this point, it remains to be seen if the licensure reciprocity created by this law will extend to individuals who gained licenses through alternative pathways.

 

Similar laws have recently been signed or implemented in , , , and .

Oregon House Passes Dental Therapy Bill

 

On April 27, the Oregon House of Representatives that would authorize dental therapists to practice statewide. The state already allows dental therapists to train to practice in , and has also authorized a at Pacific University. Under the bill, license dental therapists would be permitted to practice under a collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist, and licenses would only be granted to graduates of the state’s dental pilot project education programs until Jan. 1, 2025.

 

In addition to outlining the scope of practice and elements required to be included in collaborative agreements, the bill also requires dental therapists to practice in dental health professional shortage areas or dedicate at least 51% of their practice to patients who represent underserved populations.

 

The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.

The is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.

 

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American Dental Education Association

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA

ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer

 

Bridgette DeHart, J.D.

ADEA Director of Federal Relations and Advocacy

 

Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.

ADEA Director of State Relations and Advocacy

 

Brian Robinson

ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations

 

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