Laboratory Regulation Update: State Efforts Continue

The regulation debate has been waging in our industry for decades and the proliferation of offshore outsourcing continues to fuel the debate, especially with regard to point of origin and material disclosure. Opponents feel regulatory measures only add another level of bureaucracy and place an unfair burden on smaller lab owners who may not be able to afford fees or meet education requirements. Those in favor say it recognizes the role of dental laboratory professionals as an important part of the dental care team while also creating greater transparency and ultimately helping dentists protect the health and safety of patients. But even among proponents, there’s debate about the form of regulation and who would be responsible for overseeing the process.

The first state to enact regulations was South Carolina in 1942. Since then a dozen more states have passed legislation regulating dental laboratories and/or technicians; the laws vary state by state (visit Please Log In or Sign Up (it's free) to read the rest of this article