The province introduced legislation today, April 17, to modernize the Dental Act and ensure dentists will be able to better collaborate with other health professionals.

The housekeeping amendment will allow the Provincial Dental Board to become an incorporated body.

“The Dental Act isn’t clear about the Provincial Dental Board’s ability to be incorporated,” said Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness. “Without this housekeeping amendment, the board could be hampered in its ability to participate in the new Regulated Health Professions Network because members of the network must be incorporated.”

The network encourages more collaboration among health professionals, allowing them to better benefit from each other’s experience, knowledge and specialized skills, to provide better care for Nova Scotians.

“This amendment will bring the Dental Act clearly in line with other self-regulated professions in Nova Scotia which are established by statute and regulated through an incorporated body,” said Dr. Tom Raddall, chair of the dental board.

The board registers and licenses dentists and dental assistants in Nova Scotia, develops standards of practice and handles disciplinary processes.

Source: Release