Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) Overview
BORID is the state agency that governs the practice of dentistry. BORID grants licenses to practice, determines continuing education requirements for dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists, and investigates consumer complaints. All dentists in Massachusetts need to be familiar with the regulations in their entirety.
The MDS encourages members to be especially diligent in reviewing the sections on anesthesia (234 CMR 6.00), continuing education (234 CMR 8.00), and the practice of dentistry (234 CMR 5.00).
About BORID
BORID is responsible for licensing dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants for practice in the Commonwealth, establishing rules, regulations, and policies governing the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental assisting, and investigating complaints against licensed dental professionals. The Governor of the Commonwealth appoints board members for up to two 5-year terms, and they serve without compensation. They monitor licensees’ practices of dentistry to ensure that the public receives services in accordance with state statutes, Board regulations, and policies, including ethical standards.
BORID News, Advisories, and Announcements
The Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) periodically publishes news, advisories, and announcements. If you have questions, you can contact the MDS Member Assistance Center at 800.342.8747 or contact BORID directly at 800.414.0168.
BORID Sections
BORID’s regulations are divided into nine sections.
- Section 1: Reserved
- Section 2: Purpose, Authority, and Definitions
- Section 3: Open (no content)
- Section 4: License and Renewal Requirements
- Section 5: Requirements for the Practice of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene
- Section 6: Administration of Anesthesia and Sedation
- Section 7: Mobile and Portable Dentistry
- Section 8: Continuing Education
- Section 9: Investigation of Complaints, Disposition of Complaints, and Grounds for Discipline
Most Commonly Identified Violations
A patient’s complaint may generate a BORID in-office inspection. The top three non-clinical violations are related to infection control, and a failure to:
- Comply with infection control requirements, including weekly spore testing and use of internal indicators in sterilization pouches
- Sterilize handpieces and attachments
- Store properly sterilized hand pieces and equipment in sterilization pouches
Other common violations include the failure to:
- Complete continuing education requirements for license renewal, but signing under pains and penalties of perjury that all requirements are fulfilled (failure to submit documentation of courses taken, failure to take courses acceptable for CE).
- Obtain general consent forms for treatment.
- Properly dispose of hazardous waste, used fixer, and amalgam scrap.
- Place patient-identifying information on a removable prosthesis.
- Have proper equipment and medication necessary for the administration of local anesthesia, as well as an AED.
- Perform or document periodontal charting.
- Perform or document oral cancer screenings.