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Iowa Dental Board

Iowa Practitioner Program

Iowa Practitioner Program Overview

The Dental Board established the Iowa Practitioner Review Committee (IPRC) to assist and track the recovery or rehabilitation of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants who self-report possible impairments.

Under Board rules, "impairment" means an inability to practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting with reasonable safety and skill as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, dependency, or addiction, or any mental or physical disorder or disability. "Self-report" means the licensee providing written or oral notifications to the Board that the licensee has received or may receive a diagnosis as having an impairment before the Board's receiving a complaint or report alleging an impairment before the date of self-report.

The IPRC reviews the reports made by licensees to determine eligibility for participation. The IPRC designs an individualized recovery or rehabilitation program to meet the needs of the licensee.

State law mandates that information in the possession of the IPRC remain confidential. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record.

Criteria for Participation in the Program

The IPRC determines whether practitioners are eligible to take part in a recovery or rehabilitation program monitored by the committee. A person is ineligible to take part in the IPRC for any of the following reasons:

  • The practitioner engaged in the unlawful diversion or distribution of controlled illegal substances to a third party, or for personal gain or profit;

  • The practitioner is already under a Board order;

  • The practitioner has caused harm or injury to a patient;

  • The Board is investigating the practitioner that concerns serious matters related to the practitioner's competence;

  • The practitioner failed to provide truthful information or refused to cooperate with the Board or the IPRC; or

  • The practitioner has been subject to a civil administrative or criminal sanction for serious infractions of law, professional ethics, or administrative rules related to the practice.

The Recovery Contract

Based upon the recommendation of an IPRC-approved evaluator, the IPRC creates an individualized contract, which provides a detailed description of the goals of the program, requirements for successful completion, and the practitioner's obligations. The IPRC may refer to the Board participants who are not compliant with the terms of their contract for consideration of disciplinary action.

IPRC Membership

The chairperson of the Board appoints the members of the IPRC. The IPRC includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Executive Director of the Board or the director's designee from the Board's staff;

  • A practitioner who has remained free of addiction for two or more years after completing a recovery program for drug or alcohol dependency, addiction, or abuse;

  • A physician/counselor with expertise in substance abuse/addiction treatment programs;

  • A psychiatrist or psychologist; and

  • A public member.

Why Use The Iowa Practitioner Recovery Program?

The program encourages practitioners who have impairments to get the help they need. All information received by the IPRC remains confidential as long as the practitioner complies with the terms of a IPRC-approved treatment program.

By self-reporting an impairment to the IPRC, the practitioner may avoid formal disciplinary action by the Dental Board. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. The Board reports the action to the press, the National Practitioners Data Bank, insurance companies, and to other state and federal authorities. Participation in the program is confidential.

Health care practitioners must report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the Board. Health care practitioners who fail to report colleagues with a possible impairment may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files complaint or report.

When Should Someone Self-Report to the IPRC?

If any of the following apply to a practitioner, it is in that person's best interest to self-report to the IPRC as soon as possible:

  • Charged with, and/or arrested for OWI, DUI, or for another alcohol or drug related offense;

  • Disciplined by another federal or state agency for alcohol or drug abuse;

  • Evaluated or treated for alcohol or drug abuse or dependency, or is currently enrolled in a rehabilitation program;

  • Diagnosed with a mental or physical disorder or disability;

  • Practiced after drinking alcohol or taking an illegal or mind/mood altering substance;

  • Addiction/dependence on drugs, alcohol or prescription medication; and/or

  • Urged by friend, family or colleagues to get help for alcohol or drug abuse, or a mental or physical disorder.

To self-report, a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant may:

  • Submit a self-report form online;

  • Call to receive confidential information and ask questions (515-725-4112); or

  • Email questions to IPRC at Rebecca.Carlson@iowa.gov.