The Georgia Board of Dentistry Revisits Photobiomodulation and Teledentistry Proposals

Following a public hearing on September 4, 2026, the Georgia Board of Dentistry has chosen to table a proposed amendment to Rule 150-5-.08 and to pass a portion of a new rule related to teledentistry. The new teledentistry rule will not be transmitted to the governor’s office until the rule has been passed in its entirety at a future meeting. The proposals received public comment from GDA’s Government Affairs Committee, and GDA’s government affairs team offered detailed feedback to the Board throughout the rule development process that led up to the September public hearing.

Amending Rule 150-5-.08

The proposed change to the Board’s rule governing the use of a dental diode laser by a dental hygienist received a prior public hearing in April of 2026. At the prior hearing, the Board heard comments on a draft amendment that would add photobiomodulation to the tasks a hygienist may perform with a dental laser. At the time, the Board voted to recall the amendment in order to rework the language.  The new version would have authorized photobiomodulation by adding a new section to the rule, preserving the existing rule text rather than editing it directly. After some discussion about the limited evidence of the benefit of photobiomodulation for care hygienists would typically perform, the Board ultimately chose to table the amendment pending further literature review.

Photobiomodulation?

Clinical light therapies fall into distinct categories defined by their evoked biological response. There are three tiers of light therapy: photothermal therapy (ablation or evaporation), photodynamic therapy (disinfection or tumoricidal), and photobiomodulation therapy (modulation of a transient and reversible biological response). Photobiomodulation is a low-dose non-thermal light therapy. The current version of Rule 150-5-.08 authorizes bacterial reduction and disinfection of the gingival sulcus using a diode laser without explicitly authorizing the use of photobiomodulation.

Arany, 2025 summarizes the evidence of the effectiveness of photobiomodulation, writing that, “[photobiomodulation] treatment in supportive cancer care has reached the pinnacle of clinical evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have led to clinical practice guidelines for oral mucositis management. However, claims for PBM as a panacea for all oral diseases are rather ingenuous, and its therapeutic benefits have been exaggerated primarily because of the lack of a biological rationale for its clinical use.” He goes on to explore evidence for other suggested uses including mitigating pain and inflammation, modulating immune response, and promoting tissue healing. Of particular note, he cites several systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to the use of photobiomodulation in third molar extractions with promising results.

Teledentistry

The Board also heard comments on a proposed Rule 150-26. The proposed rule includes 14 subsections which elaborate on or restate components Georgia’s teledentistry statute. The proposal covers details on providing the Board notice of intent to practice teledentistry, clinical standards, supervision requirements, recordkeeping standards, the creation of teledentistry referral relationships, limits on services that may be provided via teledentistry, and more. The passage of the majority of the rule is a major step toward fully operationalizing Georgia’s teledentistry law. The Board made several amendments to the draft rules, and the amended versions will receive public comment at a future meeting. The Board intends to transmit the rule as a complete package.

Opportunities are already in the works for Georgia dentists to learn more about teledentistry. GDA will be releasing a compliance guide soon to help dentists navigate the new rule and its requirements. It will cover key concepts in the newly passed rule and Georgia’s law, and it will also include practical tips. GDA’s guide will also include model agreements and protocols to help dentists get started. Dr. Judy Greenlea Taylor will be speaking at GDA’s Fall Conference. She will be covering several topics related to teledentistry including current technologies, delivery models, clinical applications, and Georgia’s regulatory requirements.

When will this be effective?

A couple more steps are required before the teledentistry becomes effective. The Board will pass the final sections of the rule at a future meeting, and then the rule will undergo review and be published by the Georgia Secretary of State. After publication, there will be a 20-day period before it becomes effective. The time between a hearing and publication varies, but it typically takes months. In the meantime, the Board will publish the required forms, and dentists will have the opportunity to ensure they are in compliance with the rule.

Want to get involved in GDA Advocacy?

Consider becoming a contact dentist, donating to GDAPAC, and attending LAWDay 2026.