Board gives dentist a warning over allegations of incompetence

A central Iowa dentist charged with a lack of competency has been given a warning by state regulators.

The Iowa Dental Board recently charged Jameson Klavins of Ankeny’s Hintz Family Dentistry with failure to maintain a satisfactory standard of competency in the practice of dentistry.

According to the board, Klavins regularly performs endodontic procedures such as root canal therapy and treatments of tooth pulp to address infections and discourage future tooth deterioration.

The board alleges it reviewed Klavins’ care over an unspecified period of time and found “several issues” that include a failure to use rubber dams when performing endodontic work and a failure to follow a basic SOAP outline, which references the “Subjective/Objective/Assessment/Plan” protocol taught in dental school and considered standard practice.

The board also alleged Klavins failed to meet the standard of care for proper recordkeeping and that he failed to maintain complete and detailed records of endodontic treatment.

On the same day it filed the charge against Klavins, the board agreed to settle the case with a warning that any such conduct in the future could result in action taken against Klavins’ license.

As part of the settlement, Klavins agreed to complete, at some unspecified point in the future, a board-approved, comprehensive remedial education program on endodontic procedures and recordkeeping.

Klavins has been licensed to practice dentistry in Iowa since May 2018.