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Oklahoma Dental Groups Oral Surgery Legislation

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TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Some Oklahoma dental groups are opposing a bill in the state Legislature dealing with training requirements for oral surgery dental assistants.

But the head of the state dental board says the language in the bill has been misunderstood.

The Tulsa World reports that the bill would set forth the training required to obtain a permit as an oral surgery dental assistant.

Bonnie Flannigan, president of the Oklahoma Dental Hygienists Association, says she believes the bill would allow assistants to perform intravenous sedation on patients. But Susan Rogers, executive director of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, says the measure is being misinterpreted.

Rogers says assistants would not be allowed to practice dentistry under the bill, and many of their tasks would require direct supervision.