North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 2 NTD 2017 ISSUE 2 DE | Page 12

You invested an immense amount of time and money to
become a dental professional, but things aren’t exactly as
you thought they would be. Likely, there’s even more you
don’t know that is hindering your rights as a dentist.
Concerned Dentists of Texas provides information resources
for dentists who are in contracted or employee positions,
dental associates, private practice or desire to be in private
practice in the future.
We address current advocacy issues, such as oversupply of
dentists in Texas, high-interest student loans, lack of enforce-
ment of existing laws, restoring Texas sovereignty in dental
licensure, and other issues affecting the doctor/patient
relationship.
Preserving
Dentistry for
Dentists and
Their Patients
CONCERNED DENTISTS OF TEXAS:
By Dr. Debra Seznik and Dr. Jacquelyn Stanfield
What’s happening, and
what do you need to know?
l Is the lack of employment opportunities affecting the lo-
cation or the way you practice?
l
Are your interests being represented?
l Are insurance companies interfering with your
dentist/patient relationship?
l Are you frustrated because you work at a practice that
takes most of your income and disallows continuity of care
for your patients?
12 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
The current law regarding dental practice ownership, Sec.
251.003 Practice of Dentistry states that if a person “owns,
maintains, or operates an office” that person is practicing den-
tistry. It appears there are hundreds of dental offices that are
operated or maintained by other than licensed dentists. The
Texas State Board of Dental Examiners has jurisdiction over
1
Is it fair that others who did not faithfully commit to the
same level of education are allowed to get a dental license?
l
Do you fully understand the employment contracts you
are signing and the consequences?
l
Do you realize that in spite of the 2012 Texas Higher Edu-
cation Coordinating Board Report that did not recommend a
fourth dental school, it appears the State is moving forward
with a fourth dental school?
l
Are you aware that Guardian Life Insurance or one of its
subsidiaries appears to have purchased a major DSO entity
in Texas? What happens if they are also able to become
Medicaid administrators?
l
These questions drive our mission and are the reason why we
are so passionate about you as fellow dental professionals.