Sterilization monitoring is a critical component of infection control in dental practices. One of the most important tools used to verify that sterilization equipment is working properly is spore testing, also known as biological monitoring. Dental offices often ask: How…
Promoting Oral Health Awareness in Dental Practices On March 20, 2026, dental healthcare professionals across the globe will recognize World Oral Health Day, an international oral health awareness campaign led by the FDI World Dental Federation. This global initiative unites…
Dental Sterilizer Failure Protocol (Step-by-Step Compliance Guide) A failed spore test — also called a positive biological indicator — can be alarming for any dental office. However, a single failure does not automatically mean your sterilizer is unsafe or permanently…
Dental employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace. Under requirements enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), dental practice owners must protect employees from recognized workplace hazards and maintain compliance with federal and California safety…
Effective sterilization is essential to protecting patients and staff in the dental setting. Biological monitoring, or spore testing, is the most reliable way to confirm that sterilization equipment is working properly. When resistant spores are destroyed during a sterilization cycle,…
Dental offices must update their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) by February 16, 2026, to remain compliant with amended HIPAA regulations. The required changes are primarily related to enhanced privacy protections for substance use disorder (SUD) records under federal law…
California dental offices have a new required employment notice under Senate Bill 294 (Workplace Know Your Rights Act). This stand-alone notice covers state and federal workplace rights, including information on wages, safety, anti-discrimination, and constitutional protections like Fourth Amendment rights…
Infection control is part of everyday dental care, but it’s often routine tasks where lapses occur. That’s why standard precautions remain so important. When used consistently, they help protect patients, staff, and the dental office from preventable exposures to infectious…
In late 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a major change to its hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination guidance, ending the long-standing recommendation that all infants receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth…
As flu season intensifies, dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) play a vital role in protecting both patients and staff from seasonal influenza (flu) transmission. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) infection prevention and control guidelines for flu underscore…
