Appropriately credentialing dentist anesthesiologists would enable billing at an appropriate and equitable fee schedule, as well as improve patient access to dental anesthesiology services, several dentist anesthesiologists told ADA News. The U.S. National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards recognized dental anesthesiology as a dental specialty in 2019.

The ADA said it first reached out to representatives of Delta Dental of California several months ago in an attempt to resolve the issue. Delta Dental also declined to comment to ADA News.