The Virginia Dental Laboratory Safety Act (VDLSA), which requires dental laboratories to register with the Virginia Board of Dentistry, was passed by a nearly unanimous vote in the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) House of Delegates on September 18.
The act was pushed by Dag Zapatero, DDS, visiting faculty at the Pankey Institute, in coordination with the Virginia Dental Association Task Force and the National Association of Dental Laboratories.
Dr. Zapatero said he felt compelled to act on the matter in response to a presentation at the Pankey Institute on the subject of the growth of off-shore laboratories and a lack of state and federal regulations.
Over the course of 10 months, he presented before a number of governing organizations, was appointed to a Virginia Dental Association Task Force, and partnered with Eric Thorn of the National Association of Dental Laboratories to co-author the legislation.
The VDLSA requires registration of dental laboratories with the state dental board "to protect the public health and safety by establishing clear communication channels between dental laboratories and dental manufacturers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention]," the Pankey Institute noted in a press release.
Laboratory registration is the most cost-effective way to ensure materials and point of origin disclosure while maintaining choice and allowing for technological advancements in dentistry, according to the institute.
