The bill also provides several updates to the Illinois Dental Practice Act improving dental patients’ standard of care
Savanna….Governor Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 167, sponsored by State Representative Tony McCombie (IL-71st), allowing dentists to practice teledentistry and promoting better patient safety when they undergo procedures requiring anesthesia.
“This law puts patient care first by giving them the option of teledentistry,” said Rep. McCombie. “The Dental Practice Act updates that were also passed will promote better care for patients by establishing updated standards to ensure anesthesia is performed under the care of professionals who receive the necessary continuing education. This will allow patients more options for care while also protecting their safety.”
Teledentistry is a method of telemedicine, which uses modern technology to deliver medical consultations, education and care when travel is determined to be prohibitive. Rather than replacing in-person care, teledentistry supplements that care in situations where it would otherwise be a struggle (such as travel time, costs, or shortages of specialists).
The Dental Practice Act required several other additions, clarifications, and technical changes in order to conform to modern technology and practices when anesthesia is used. These include adding enhanced training and continuing education requirements for dentists, establishing the standards for properly equipped dental facilities, and establishing continuing education requirements in sedation techniques for dentists who possess the required permit.
State Senator Neil Anderson sponsored the bill in the Illinois State Senate. Constituents seeking more information may call Rep. McCombie’s district office at (815) 632-7384 or contact her at www.repmccombie.com