Some new laws have recently gone in to effect in Kentucky that change the way dentists are used to working with labs.

For years, Russellville Dental Lab has been required to annually register with the Kentucky Board of Dentistry.  This registration maintained our early registration number of "126".  However, as of July 15, 2010, the Kentucky Legislature passed HB.179 which effectively removed registration for dental labs in Kentucky.

The wording was changed to the following:

SECTION 11. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 313 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
(1) A dental laboratory shall employ at least one (1) of the following:
(a) A certified dental technician who shall supervise all work performed in accordance with a written laboratory procedure work order issued by a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter; or
(b) A dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(2) No dentist shall use the services of any dental laboratory to construct, alter, repair, or duplicate any denture, plate, bridge, splint, orthodontic, or prosthetic appliance, without first furnishing the commercial dental laboratory a written procedure work order. Both the commercial dental laboratory and the dentist producing the work order shall keep a copy on file for two (2) years, and all laboratory procedure work orders required by this subsection shall be open to inspection by the board.
(3) A dental laboratory that employs or contracts with a dentist licensed according to this chapter may construct, alter, repair, or duplicate any denture, plate, bridge, splint, orthodontic, or prosthetic appliance without a work order from a referring dentist if the patient is seen or evaluated, or whose care is supervised by the referring dentist.

Therefore, Russellville Dental Laboratory can no longer provide our registration number because there is no such number.

You can read the full text of the bill here: 2010 Kentucky Acts Chapter 85

2010 brought some speaking oppurtunities for Joe Coursey of Russellville Dental Lab in the United Kingdom.

Russellville Dental Lab is proud to recognize Joe Coursey for having received his Mastership status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.  The award is given by Implant Prosthetic Section of the ICOI and recognizes those individuals who have shown proficiency in the restoration of Dental Implants.

Joe and Lee from Russellville Dental Lab made the trek up to blustery Chicago for this 2009's Midwinter meeting.  As always, the meeting was chocked full of interesting courses and lively discussions.

Lee got the privelage to guest blog some of what went on over on The Dental Implant Blog run by ICOI/ADIA's Teresa Duncan.

Although there was considerable talk of avoiding doom and gloom this year with several programs focused on making it work in a down economy, there was quite a bit of new innovation.

Topping the list of innovation (from the Lab perspective anyway) has to be the new Nobel Biocare Procera 4.0 launch.  The new software and scanner dramatically improves the capabilities of the Procera lab for quality restorations.  Nobel recently acquired BioCad Medical and the integration of their technology in to Nobel's new software is great.

The new optical scanner, powered by Optimet's conoscopic holography technology, is a true advance in scanning.  With this technology you can scan up to 270 degrees.  That means this is the only scanner that can get in to undercuts in most models and impressions.

Other notables: we saw Master Ceramist Willie Geller talk about his ideas on prep-less veneers. This was a real treat. 

It was a great meeting!