SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A big battle is shaping up between California
doctors and dentists. Both of them want a piece of the lucrative
business of plastic surgery.

Carl Rischer

Now, the Legislature is involved with a bill that would change the rules
on which doctors do what procedures.

The dentists aren't the same ones that clean teeth and fill cavities.
The dentists in question are known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Typically, they do procedures like removing wisdom teeth and
reconstructive surgery after accidents. Now, they also want to do
elective plastic surgery on anything involving the face and neck.

Carl Rischer (pictured, left) said that when he looks at himself in the
mirror now, it's hard to believe that less than three months ago he was
on board a high-speed boat that crashed into a wall of rocks.

"You could move the cheek bones half to three-quarters of an inch in
either direction. The lower jaw, the maxillas, were broken," Rischer
said.

With almost every bone in his face broken, Rischer was rushed to an area
hospital, where Dr. Tim Silegy performed emergency surgery.

"Carl's surgery took about six hours, a little bit over six hours, and
involved putting small titanium plates across the fractures," Silegy
said.

It was only after Rischer woke up that he realized the man whom he
credits for rebuilding his face and his life had never been to medical
school.

"No, I'm not an M.D. No, just DDS," Silegy said.

Silegy is among the doctors of dental surgery who want to expand their
practice to include not only reconstructive surgery in emergency rooms
and trauma centers, but also elective plastic surgery on areas such as
lips, eyes, noses and ears.

At the hearing at the state Capitol Monday, dentists faced off against
medical doctors, who say they are the only ones qualified to do such
procedures safely.

"If you allow people to do surgery untrained, you're going to get bad
results," said plastic surgeon Dr. Jack Bruner.

A similar bill was vetoed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who
then ordered a study of the idea. That study is due back in a few
months, and both sides predict it will confirm they have the patients'
best interests at heart.

Based on his experience, Rischer said he would have no problem going
back to his dentist for more surgery.

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