By Charles Curley, WLG Commentary
Apparently Wyoming dentists don’t give up. That’s good when it comes to extracting all the fragments of a broken tooth, but not so good when it comes to doing a complete walletectomy on you.
First the dentist said they wanted a monopoly on making and fitting dentures. So far, the legislature seems to agree with their desire for a monopoly, as Senate File 38 failed introduction this year. But kudos to Sen. Geis for introducing and Senators Case, Geis, Hastert, Jennings, Meier, Peterson and Scott for voting for introduction and for consumer choice. Stay tuned to the 2011 general session.
Now the Board of Dental Examiners is suing to stop a tanning salon, Bronze Bottom Tanning, in Casper, from offering an automated tooth whitening process. Judging from Casper Star Tribune footage, it’s a completely do-it-yourself process. Think of it as tanning for your teeth. No dentist, no four year medical degree, no fancy office full of expensive equipment to pay the loans on. No wonder Bronze Bottom offers 50-75% lower prices.
Have you been into a modern medical office lately? Half the staff are pushing paper for insurance claims. MDs that don’t accept insurance (there are a few) can offer consumers rates half of those who do. Guess what: Bronze Bottom Tanning doesn’t take insurance either.
What exactly is the practice of dentistry, anyway? One suspects that it is rather like the lawyers’ equivalent of unauthorized practice of law. Whatever it is, if a member of the relevant union isn’t doing it, the union wants it shut down. Ask a lawyer some time what constitutes unauthorized practice of law. Ask a dentist what constitutes practice of dentistry.
Tags: Bronze Bottom Tanning, Health Care, Healthcare, Policy, Sovereignty