ADEX Licensure Exam and Updated Language for DMD/MD Licensees

By Casey Stoutamire, FDA Chief Legal Officer

The Florida Board of Dentistry met in Tampa on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 a.m. The Florida Dental Association (FDA) was represented by Board of Dentistry (BOD) Liaisons Dr. Andy Brown and Dr. Steven Hochfelder and Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire. Dr. Jim Haddix was also in attendance. Several dental hygiene students from Hillsborough Community College also attended the meeting.

BOD members present included: Dr. Claudio Miro, chair; Dr. Nick White Drs. Christine Bojaxhi, Brad Cherry, Tom McCaw ley, Jose Mellado and T.J. Tejera; hygiene member, Ms. Angela Johnson and consumer members, Mr. Fabio Andrade and Mr. Ben Assad Mirza. Ms. Karyn Hill, hygienist, was absent (excused).

As a reminder, in November, the board heard from the Commis sion on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), which admin isters the ADEX licensure exam. The Florida rule (modeled after the initial CDCA rule) requires an applicant to complete and pass all parts of the ADEX exam within 18 months of taking the first part of the exam. However, the CDCA rule now states that all parts of the ADEX exam must be completed within 18 months of an applicant starting his/her D4 year. As part of that discussion, the board asked the FDA to work with board staff to review the dental examination statute and propose clean-up changes to ensure it aligns with current procedures. Legislation supported by both the FDA and BOD has been introduced in this session to clean up the statutory language. In addition, the Rules Committee approved a modification to Rule 64B5-2.013 to mirror the CDCA language for how long an applicant has to complete the ADEX exam. This eliminates the 18-month issue the board has been seeing due to students taking the curriculum-integrated format of the exam.

The BOD also passed modifications suggested by the Rules Committee to Rules 64B5-12.013 and 64B5-16.0051. The updated language in 64B5-12.013 allows DMD/MD licensees to take the medical errors and controlled substances CE courses once per biennium to fulfill the BOD and the Board of Medicine requirements. Currently, dual licensees must take these courses twice per biennium to comply with the Boards of Dentistry and Medicine. The modifications to Rule 64B5-16.0051, supported by both the FDA and University of Florida (UF), updated language on the Restorative Function Dental Auxiliary training requirements. Now, a portion of the training on live patients can be done in a local dentist’s office under his/her supervision. The dentist must complete training beforehand and be calibrated on the clinical requirements and procedures. UF should now be able to include an additional class while also reducing the course tuition.

There were two disciplinary cases, two informal hearings, two determinations of waivers and one recommended order. The board revoked the licenses of two dentists due to criminal convictions. It is much better to be a spectator than a participant in BOD disciplinary cases.