The current practice of dentistry is defined as diagnosing, treating, operating, or prescribing for any disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical condition of the oral and maxillofacial area relating to restoring and  maintaining  dental  health.  By removing the language, "restoring and  maintaining  dental  health" the bill permits dental practitioners to perform a wide range of medical and surgical procedures incongruent with dental training and practice including but not limited to rhinoplasty (nose jobs), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhytidectomy (face lift), submental liposuction, otoplasty (ear surgery), dermabrasion, and other procedures of the head and neck performed by plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists and neurosurgeons.

This bill would permit all dental practitioners to perform a wide range of medical and surgical procedures within the oral maxillofacial area.

Dentists, even oral and maxillofacial surgeons, are not trained in the systemic management of disease and, therefore, are not prepared to conduct a proper pre-operative evaluation, assess what surgical approach is most appropriate, or determine how to manage complications which may arise.
 
This type of expansion dangerously comprises patient safety and quality of care. Rather, policies should explore and implement measures that help ensure an adequate distribution of physicians in all communities and focus on attracting and retaining new physicians throughout the state.

Allowing limited license providers to become medical doctors by legislative fiat runs counter to federal and state policies that promote physician led, team-based health care.  > Use the NYSSPS Grassroots Action Center to Oppose S3551/A4543