North Carolina Dentists Now Able to Test for COVID-19

The North Carolina legislature passed SB 704-COVID-19 Recovery Act on May 4, which enables dentists to administer diagnostic and antibody tests for the novel coronavirus if the tests have approval or emergency authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration. How soon such tests will be available for use in dental practices remains unknown.

The bill also grants the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners the ability to waive statutory requirements in an emergency, providing the dental board with the same authority as is currently granted to the NC Medical Board and NC Board of Nursing. This provision enables the board, after the governor, city, or municipality declares a formal state of emergency, to bypass certain requirements to allow dentists and dental hygienists to practice. Read more here.