In response to the customary solicitation of comments by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) regarding proposed standards, the Federal Trade Commission this week submitted comments concerning the proposed accreditation standards for dental therapy education programs. The comments are among those submitted by numerous organizations or individuals, and the FTC submission contains two recommendations with respect to the standards, suggesting that:
 
“CODA should consider omitting categorical statements regarding a supervising dentist’s responsibility for diagnosis and treatment planning, topics that are typically addressed by individual states in their licensure and scope of practice laws; and
 
CODA should consider developing accreditation standards for master’s or graduate level programs that train dental therapists to conduct oral evaluations and develop treatment plans without requirements for an on-site supervising dentist or at other supervisory levels that have been adopted by states.”
 
These comments were directed to CODA in the course of its normal process, and do not require a response. CODA will consider these comments, along with all other comments thus submitted, during its consideration of the standards in early 2014.