Who are state dental boards really meant to protect?
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Missouri and Tennessee scope-of-practice changes are redefining which tasks dental assistants may legally perform and who enforces competency standards, directly affecting practice workflows, liability exposure, and staffing models for every Missouri and Tennessee practice owner and DSO.
Key points
- Missouri and Tennessee dental boards are reviewing dental-assistant duties, education requirements, and competency verification.
- The changes raise questions about board authority to set or alter scope-of-practice rules versus legislative intent.
- Practices in both states must track new assistant task lists and documentation standards to stay compliant.
- Non-compliance risks include fines, license actions, or malpractice exposure tied to unauthorized duties.
Who should care
Read the original on DentistryIQ
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