The Board has decided to keep the original terminology in place, which is exactly the outcome we hoped for. I started this because I was worried about patient clarity, but it was truly your engagement that ensured our concerns were actually taken seriously. I am honestly stunned by the result, …
November 26, 2018
Final supporters
We support the current terminology in the Virginia Board of Dentistry regulations requiring general dentists who focus on one area of dentistry to state they are general dentists and not specialists. Current terminology; "A dentist not currently entitled to such specialty designation shall not represent that his practice is limited to providing services in a specialty area without clearly disclosing in the representation that he is a general dentist." Eliminating this requirement will create confusion for customers who would prefer to see a specialist and may not understand they are in fact, seeing general dentists who have not had the additional training specialists have received.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 5, 2018
14 Comments
It is important to know those doctors that have had additional training in a specialty area. I don't go to a pediatrician because he/she is good with kids. I go to them because they have had additional training to treat children.
Patients should be able to make informed decisions when choosing a provider. Removing restrictions on who can claim specialization takes away choices that patients should be able to make in their own self-interest.
I prefer my pediatric dentist have training with peds - not just be someone who hasn't had the training but wants to work with kids.
Transparency is key, why would anyone suggest to blur the lines for the consumer? what is the motivation? as a consumer, we want to know who has and who has not been trained to specialize in specific areas. Especially when it comes to our children.
Patients (and their families) should be able to expect full transparency as to the training and qualifications of their medical/dental practitioner. The only people who should be able to claim their practice as "specializing" in an area should be those practitioners who have the additional training/education required to back up the claim. Allowing general dentists to claim they specialize in an area-without the additional training/education required-is deceitful and confusing for patients.
It's important to be specific about specialties!
All children are special and should be treated as such. Parents should know if their dental provider specializes in working with children or not.
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The Board has decided to keep the original terminology in place, which is exactly the outcome we hoped for. I started this because I was worried about patient clarity, but it was truly your engagement that ensured our concerns were actually taken seriously. I am honestly stunned by the result, …
November 26, 2018
Final supporters
We support the current terminology in the Virginia Board of Dentistry regulations requiring general dentists who focus on one area of dentistry to state they are general dentists and not specialists. Current terminology; "A dentist not currently entitled to such specialty designation shall not represent that his practice is limited to providing services in a specialty area without clearly disclosing in the representation that he is a general dentist." Eliminating this requirement will create confusion for customers who would prefer to see a specialist and may not understand they are in fact, seeing general dentists who have not had the additional training specialists have received.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 5, 2018
14 Comments
My child has experienced problems going to a non-pediatric dentist, because he did not fully understand the problems with baby vs. adult teeth. We ended up having to go to an oral surgeon on an emergency basis, to fix the problem the general dentist, who overall was a fine dentist, created. It is VITAL to a parent to be able to trust the terminology of a dentist's advertisements and website. Specific, regulated terminology is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to a parent making the best health decisions for their child!
It is important to know those doctors that have had additional training in a specialty area. I don't go to a pediatrician because he/she is good with kids. I go to them because they have had additional training to treat children.
Patients should be able to make informed decisions when choosing a provider. Removing restrictions on who can claim specialization takes away choices that patients should be able to make in their own self-interest.
I prefer my pediatric dentist have training with peds - not just be someone who hasn't had the training but wants to work with kids.
Transparency is key, why would anyone suggest to blur the lines for the consumer? what is the motivation? as a consumer, we want to know who has and who has not been trained to specialize in specific areas. Especially when it comes to our children.
Patients (and their families) should be able to expect full transparency as to the training and qualifications of their medical/dental practitioner. The only people who should be able to claim their practice as "specializing" in an area should be those practitioners who have the additional training/education required to back up the claim. Allowing general dentists to claim they specialize in an area-without the additional training/education required-is deceitful and confusing for patients.
It's important to be specific about specialties!
All children are special and should be treated as such. Parents should know if their dental provider specializes in working with children or not.
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My child has experienced problems going to a non-pediatric dentist, because he did not fully understand the problems with baby vs. adult teeth. We ended up having to go to an oral surgeon on an emergency basis, to fix the problem the general dentist, who overall was a fine dentist, created. It is VITAL to a parent to be able to trust the terminology of a dentist's advertisements and website. Specific, regulated terminology is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to a parent making the best health decisions for their child!