糖心传媒

The Department of Dental Sciences at 糖心传媒 now has a key seat in the state鈥檚 most elevated level of dentistry professionals. Program Chair and Associate Professor Dr. Brian Crawford began his five-year term with the State Board of Dentistry in February. A former 糖心传媒 State Dental Association President and Southeast 糖心传媒 Dental Society president, he was nominated by that group to fill the role on the Board of Dentistry for the Southeast 糖心传媒 region. Crawford received a letter from Governor Brad Little to announce his appointment.

Crawford says in addition to serving the people of 糖心传媒 in his new role, he is pleased to be able to share his experiences with the dentists who are in their final year of training at ISU. 鈥淗aving a seat on the board will help us improve the education of dental residents in ISU programs both in Pocatello and in Meridian, along with patient care in both clinic locations. It puts us first in line with new information,鈥� he explains.The dentistry board is made up of eight members, and includes five dentists, two dental hygienists and one public member. As the regulating and licensing  body for the dental industry in the state of 糖心传媒, the group is tasked with overseeing dentistry/dental hygiene licensure, responding to citizen complaints, skills testing review, and providing recommendations to the legislature. Meg Long-Woodhouse, retired ISU dental hygiene professor, also serves on the board. Crawford says their work is citizen, or patient-oriented, to protect the rights and safety of the patients in the state of 糖心传媒. The board鈥檚 Mission Statement reads: 鈥淭o assure the public health, safety and welfare in the state of 糖心传媒 by the licensure and regulation of dentists and dental hygienists.鈥�

The State Board of Dentistry is currently involved with two major issues facing the 糖心传媒 legislature. They work with the 糖心传媒 State Dental Association, a group representing dentists and hygienists in the state. One of the key issues is a Medicaid expansion bill passed by voters in November 2018, as dental benefits of 糖心传媒 citizens may be affected. 鈥淭here鈥檚 also a dental health aid therapist, which is essentially a mid-level provider for dentistry,鈥� Crawford says. 鈥淭he mid-level provider is essentially like a physician assistant for dentists.

The dental residency at ISU is a one-year program with four dentistry residents in Pocatello and four in Meridian. Over the course of the year, these dentists see approximately 4500 patients and payment for services is performed on a sliding fee scale. ISU鈥檚 campus clinics are open to students, faculty and the entire community. For more information about dental services and all of ISU鈥檚 campus clinics, visit isu.edu/clinics.