Supreme Court Dentist Board Case Could Impact State Bars

A few dentists looking to keep teeth-whitening businesses out of malls and other retail spaces have made a federal case of it, and it’s set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Oct. 14. The FTC has said that the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners overstepped its regulatory bounds when it sent 42 cease-and-desist letters to the teeth-whitening businesses that were not associated with dentists. The Board shot back, claiming the federal government was overstepping its bounds and interfering with state regulations. The case could have ramifications for state law bars.