CONTACT: Carol S. Weber, APR, Director of Public Relations
PHONE: 414-755-4108 (direct); 414-315-9321 (cell after normal business hours)
E-MAIL: cweber@wda.org
Dr. Steven Stoll, a general dentist in Neenah, Wis. and president-elect of the Wisconsin Dental Association, issued this statement regarding his testimony yesterday before the state Dentistry Examining Board. The DEB is considering changes to rules governing licensing for some dentists in Wisconsin. Please visit the WDA website for Dr. Stoll’s complete testimony.
“The WDA supports expanding access to oral health care, and we favor lifting some of the existing hurdles to licensing dental specialists who are moving to Wisconsin from other states.
“Among the amendments being considered is one allowing time spent in post-doctoral dental residency training to be included as part of the ’active practice hours‘ required for a licensure by credentials. Another would allow any specialist who is board-certified to qualify for licensure by credentials without providing proof of taking a clinical licensure examination in general dentistry.
“In communicating WDA’s support, I respectfully requested the DEB consider some very slight language modifications. One would require that only post-doctoral residency training completed at an accredited institution count toward active practice hours for licensure. Another would make it easier for specialists who are board-certified to be licensed here.
“We believe the small language changes we have supported are consistent with existing DEB licensing requirements and promote fairness, while also upholding quality and safety for patients receiving care. We appreciate the opportunity to appear before the DEB today and look forward to seeing these proposals become enacted.”
