Emergencies can happen without warning – fires, power outages, severe weather, or medical emergencies. Having a customized emergency action plan that addresses the types of emergencies most likely to be encountered in a dental office can lead to quicker mitigation…
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and most state dental boards require, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective clothing, to be removed prior to leaving the work…
While a dentist owns patient treatment records, they must provide patients with access to their records and/or a summary of their records. A patient record includes x-rays, photographs, and models, and can include any written or recorded information regarding a…
Did you know that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has Letters of Interpretation to explain how to comply with OSHA regulations in specific workplace situations? OSHA’s Letters of Interpretation, which can be browsed and searched online, offer…
Sponsored by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the perfect time to make sure your dental office is protected against hackers and in compliance with the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act…
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, and contribute to their community. To raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts…
Both the Dental Board of California and Cal/OSHA require personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective attire, to be removed prior to leaving the work area(s). While “work area” must be defined individually on a case-by-case basis, a work area in…
Infection control is at the heart of safe, effective dental care. While cleaning and disinfecting clinical contact surfaces are essential to prevent disease transmission, many items in the dental operatory are difficult to clean and disinfect thoroughly between patients. The…
The Dental Board of California’s (DBC’s) Table of Permitted Duties for Dental Assistants has been updated to reflect amendments to the California Dental Practice Act (DPA), which took effect January 1, 2025 with the passage of Senate Bill 1453 last…
All contaminated disposable sharps generated in a California dental office must be placed into a sharps container, which should1 be placed in each operatory where disposable sharps are used. The sharps container must be rigid, puncture-resistant, leakproof, portable if necessary…
