The South Carolina Senate recently approved a bill to require in-person examinations before patients can receive orthodontic treatment.
Five notes:
1. S453 requires dental professionals to complete in-person examinations and review radiographic records before initiating any orthodontic treatment.
2. The bill builds upon the state’s Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, which was passed in 2024 to expand telemedicine and teledentistry in the state.
3. The bill is backed by several organizations, including the American Association of Orthodontists, the South Carolina Association of Orthodontists and the South Carolina Dental Association.
4. Eight states have enacted similar legislation, according to a Feb. 18 news release.
5. The bill was passed with unanimous approval and now sits with the state House of Representatives’ Medical, Military and Municipal Affairs Committee.
