practicing without a license?!?!

[helloman]

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I'm a second year dental student. What are you the laws concerning working in a private dental practice while in school. Is it legal to drill, or fill teeth while under the supervision of a licensed dentist if the patient knows that you're a dental student??

 

[helloman]

I'm not a troll. I'm asking a serious question. I'm observing at a private dental office now, and he asked me if i would be comfortable working on a patient under his supervision if the patient was willing. It's not like i'm doing crown preperations; all i would be doing is an occasional class I composite and filling a couple of his preps (possibly giving anesthesia as well). I just wanted to know the legality of this issue. Does anybody know? I'm on a new account for a specific purpose. I don't want people to know where i attend school.

 

[dentheartthrob]

uhm..to think about it that is kind of a good question. Even if this dentist that you are shadowing has a MA, I dont think he can legally supervise you if it isnt in a learning institution at where he works at.

 

[tinman831]

I wouldn't be to quick to call troll on this one. It tends to discourage legitimate new members from posting.

I doubt you'd legally be able to perform any procedures but I'm sure it happens 😉

 

[mike3kgt]

I'm a second year dental student. What are you the laws concerning working in a private dental practice while in school. Is it legal to drill, or fill teeth while under the supervision of a licensed dentist if the patient knows that you're a dental student??

Some states will allow you to sit for a hygiene licensure exam as a dental student and if that is true and those states also allow hygienists to perform anesthesia, then you may be able to do some of these tasks.

You, under no circumstances, should be performing irreversible procedures as a dental student outside of the "walls" of the dental school (unless you are at an off-site clinic associated with the school, extenship, or medical mission).

In fact, I will run as fast as possible away from this dentist and his/her practice. When you are ready to graduate, don't look at this practice as an associateship. If the dentist is **seriously** asking a dental student to practice dentistry outside of dental school, I would not want to be anywhere near him/her. It smells of pressure to delegate assistants to work beyond their scope and further problems down the road.

If you were caught, at least here in FL, you would be convicted of a felony, probably kicked out of dental school, and banned from dental licensure for a number of years.

Don't do it.

Good luck.

-Mike

 

[Columbia07]

More than anything else, I'm not sure how you would obtain malpractice insurance (which is usually available to students who extern, obviously given to students at their own dental school).

I would NOT do it. I seriously doubt that you would be allowed to practice on a patient without a license, especially being a D2, which is considered to be less training than a hygienist (at least at USC).

 

[helloman]

well thanks for the advice... I wasn't quite sure what the repercussions would be. I guess I'll just tell the dentist i don't feel comfortable, and/or ready. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[docj1]

Some states will allow you to sit for a hygiene licensure exam as a dental student and if that is true and those states also allow hygienists to perform anesthesia, then you may be able to do some of these tasks.

You, under no circumstances, should be performing irreversible procedures as a dental student outside of the "walls" of the dental school (unless you are at an off-site clinic associated with the school, extenship, or medical mission).

In fact, I will run as fast as possible away from this dentist and his/her practice. When you are ready to graduate, don't look at this practice as an associateship. If the dentist is **seriously** asking a dental student to practice dentistry outside of dental school, I would not want to be anywhere near him/her. It smells of pressure to delegate assistants to work beyond their scope and further problems down the road.

If you were caught, at least here in FL, you would be convicted of a felony, probably kicked out of dental school, and banned from dental licensure for a number of years.

Don't do it.

Good luck.

-Mike

I agree with Mike. Run, don't walk, away from this practice. If he's willing to allow someone to practice without a license, god only knows what skeletons are in his closet. Google his name and see if anything comes up with the department of professional regulation in your state.

Don't do it.

 

[Daurang]

I know there's a dental assistant in San Diego doing simple extraction and then fabricate denture for only $300 each in her garage. In Seattle there's a foreign unlicensed dentist doing molar root canals in his house for only $300 bucks. If you want to join this elite group, it's not recommended but you're more than welcome to.

 

[skidmd]

Some states will allow you to sit for a hygiene licensure exam as a dental student and if that is true and those states also allow hygienists to perform anesthesia, then you may be able to do some of these tasks.

You, under no circumstances, should be performing irreversible procedures as a dental student outside of the "walls" of the dental school (unless you are at an off-site clinic associated with the school, extenship, or medical mission).

In fact, I will run as fast as possible away from this dentist and his/her practice. When you are ready to graduate, don't look at this practice as an associateship. If the dentist is **seriously** asking a dental student to practice dentistry outside of dental school, I would not want to be anywhere near him/her. It smells of pressure to delegate assistants to work beyond their scope and further problems down the road.

If you were caught, at least here in FL, you would be convicted of a felony, probably kicked out of dental school, and banned from dental licensure for a number of years.

Don't do it.

Good luck.

-Mike

Hey Mike,

Do you know what states allow you to sit for a hygiene licensure exam as a dental student? I know you probably don't have a list memorized, but do you know any off the top of your head. If you can't think of any, I'll try to find out. I just thought that was interesting, I hadn't heard that before. Thanks

 

[Dutchboy]

I once had a Louisville D3 work on my teeth when I was in Utah. It was some program they have up there and it was in his brothers office (a licensed dentist). There was a bunch of paper work involved to make this legal. And actually he never touched the drill, only fill.

 

[small]

It's probably different state to state, but I think it (the dentist's office) would have to be designated an "institute of learning" or affiliated with one for you to be able to do anything more than what the assistants do. That's what I was told where I volunteer (in Indiana).

 

[C equals]

I know there's a dental assistant in San Diego doing simple extraction and then fabricate denture for only $300 each in her garage. In Seattle there's a foreign unlicensed dentist doing molar root canals in his house for only $300 bucks. If you want to join this elite group, it's not recommended but you're more than welcome to.

This is frightening to hear. Hasn't anyone every reported them? I don't want to sound naive but how can they be allowed to continue doing this if people in the profession know about it?