Audit Finds Board of Dentistry Regulatory Procedures Could Be Improved

An examination of whether the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry effectively ensures dentists comply with the state’s Dental Practice Act found some areas that should be improved, the Legislative Auditor said in a report released today. Specifically, performance auditors suggested that the Board set up a more consistent inspection policy, make sure all violations noted in inspections are corrected, and develop a disciplinary matrix to ensure penalties are handled fairly and equitably.

The Louisiana Administrative Code mandates that the Dentistry Board perform random, announced inspections of the state’s dental offices. The inspections are used to help make sure the offices are following proper health and safety procedures as well as complying with Board rules regarding the display of licenses, permits, and certifications. Auditors found that between fiscal years 2012 and 2014, inspections were not performed on 35.5% of Louisiana’s 1,600 dental offices.

The Dentistry Board may cite offices for 16 potential violations in six categories. They include undocumented or lack of spore testing, insufficient immunization documentation for staff, and failure to properly display licenses, permits, or certificates. Between fiscal years 2012 and 2014, 715 violations were identified at 410 dental offices, auditors found.

In addition, the Board regulates how dental offices advertise. Between fiscal years 2012 and 2014, the Board identified 267 advertising violations committed by 255 dentists.

However, auditors found that the Board did not properly follow up to make sure the dentists submitted sufficient proof that either inspection or advertising violations had been corrected. Auditors also found that the Board was inconsistent in imposing penalties. Different sanctions were handed out to dentists who committed similar violations.

Auditors made a total of eight recommendations for changes in the Board’s regulatory procedures. In his response, the Board’s executive director disagreed with all of the recommendations.