No Ohio lawmakers have taken action, 10 Investigates' Lindsey Seavert reported.
SLIDESHOW:
Images From The Report
| VIDEO:
Watch 10 Investigates' Original Report
| ONLINE EXTRAS:
Read
The FDA Response |
Burgess'
Letter To Committee Chairman (PDF)
The current Consumer Protection Safety Commission's safety threshold for surface coatings on
items such as toys is 600 parts per million. Congress is considering lowering the level of
lead to 90 parts per million, the international standard. 10 Investigates found levels of lead from
Chinese dental work testing at 210 ppm.
Ohio Representative Jay Hottinger, a Republican from Newark, reviewed our original report in
which we ordered eight Crowns from four Chinese labs. 10 Investigates found one crown
measuring lead.
"I am not aware of anyone inside state government who was aware of this problem," Hottinger
said.
Hottinger sits on the Ohio House Health Committee. He said that if lawmakers are in the
dark, most Ohioans are too.
"Your report is going to set in motion lots of activity," Hottinger said. "A number of
things happen on a federal level as well as the state."
In Ohio, not one state agency tracks the roughly 300 dental labs but three states regulate the
dental lab industry, Seavert reported.
In Kentucky, labs and dental lab technicians must register with the state dental
board. Dentists are required to use registered labs. Training is a must, with one
certified dental technician in each lab.
Only dental technicians in South Carolina register with the state and must have one certified
dental technician in each lab. Proposed legislation wants every technician certified and every
lab to disclose materials and origin of dental work.
Texas also requires labs to register with the state annually and mandates a certified
technician in each lab.
"The fact that there is that many (dental laboratories) and such little oversight is very
alarming," Hottinger said.
He said that greater enforcement is needed and the discussion begins in the Ohio
Statehouse.
"That very well may need to come in the form of a bill we pass here in the General Assembly,"
Hottinger said.
Florida requires labs only to register. After 10 Investigates story aired last week a
state representative proposed a new law, requiring labs to tell dentists where the dental work is
made and what materials are in it.
Stay with 10 Investigates and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
March 4, 2008:
Lawmakers,
FDA Eye Dental Work Report
February 28, 2008:
State
Dental Board Takes Action After 10 Investigates Report
February 27, 2008:
Foreign
Dental Work Put To Test
Web Extras:
- More Information About 10 Investigates' Research
- Read The Food And Drug Administration's Response
- Read The American Dental Association's Response
- Read The National Association Of Dental Laboratories Letter (PDF)
- Guidelines For Approving Laboratory Prescription Forms (PDF)
- Form From The Missouri Dental Board On Outsourcing Materials (PDF)
