Advocacy Corner: AAE Leads Advocacy Efforts to Uphold Specialty Advertising Laws in Ohio
This winter, the AAE launched a robust advocacy response in Ohio to oppose proposed revisions to specialty advertising laws that jeopardize the integrity of specialty designations, particularly in endodontics. These changes would have allowed inadequately trained dental providers to advertise as “specialists” after they have completed inadequate and minimal training obtained from unaccredited certifying boards or organizations offering weekend or virtual courses in specialty services.
The initiative began when AAE President-Elect Steven Katz, DDS, and Najia Usman, DDS, both Ohio members, alerted the AAE to behind-the-scenes attempts by the Ohio State Dental Board to weaken specialty advertising requirements. Fortunately, the Ohio State Dental Association’s Director of Legislative Services, Eric Richmond, intervened, requesting that the proposed revisions be made publicly available for transparent stakeholder feedback before any decisions were made.
Recognizing the significant consequences of these changes posed to Ohio members’ practices and patient safety, the AAE took a leading role in organizing national dental organizations to oppose the revisions during the December 2 interested parties meeting. Additionally, the Association partnered with the Ohio Association of Endodontists to alert all Ohio endodontists about the proposed changes and encourage them to directly get involved in our advocacy response.
The AAE is grateful for the leadership of its Ohio members, Drs. Christopher Space and Philip Jensen, who delivered impactful testimony at the December 2 in-person meeting. They highlighted that the industry standard for the endodontics specialty designation requires a minimum of 10 years of education and training, including completion of a two-year CODA-accredited specialty program to ensure quality patient outcomes. They also emphasized that the proposed changes would spread misinformation, compromise patient care, and erode public trust—core tenets at odds with the mission of the Ohio State Dental Board.
Beyond in-person efforts, the AAE and OAE organized a letter-writing campaign, securing 74 signatures from Ohio members, despite the Board’s short notice over the Thanksgiving holiday. The AAE also coordinated a national response, submitting written testimony co-signed by seven specialty dental organizations to the Ohio State Dental Board and Governor Mike DeWine.
The AAE will continue to oppose and call on the Ohio State Dental Board to withdraw the misguided revisions at its next meeting on January 13. Ohio members interested in testifying and representing the specialty can contact Darcy McLaughlin at DMcLaughlin@aae.org.
Additional Resources
12-02-2024 – Dental and Dental Specialties Sign On – Specialty Advertising Laws – Ohio Dental Board
12-02-2024_AAE-and-OAE-Comments-_Specialty-Advertising-Laws_-OH-Dental-Board