Infection control is a serious concern for patients, staff, dentists and regulators. Public awareness from media outlets can highlight the need for following recognized and mandated infection control rules and guidelines. The investigative report KCRA by a Sacramento, California news station showed…
All clinical contact surfaces that are not protected by impervious barriers must be cleaned and disinfected using a low- to intermediate-level hospital disinfectant registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The low-level disinfectants used must be labeled as effective against…
Most state dental boards require that biological monitoring of the sterilization cycle be conducted using a spore test on a weekly basis. But what about sterilizer monitoring using a chemical indicator? Do most dental boards require chemical monitoring too? Chemical…
Healthcare employers are not required to provide routine booster shots or serologic testing to their employees, other than serologic testing immediately following the vaccination series. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard incorporates the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) by…
Pharmaceutical waste in a dental office is regulated as medical waste, and includes expired or partially-used over-the-counter medications, patient prescriptions, and emergency drugs. Since California is the strictest state in terms of medical waste disposal, California’s requirements are provided below…
Last month, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis released a report estimating the supply and demand for dentists and dental hygienists in 2012 and 2025. The data estimates were calculated using modeling techniques, based on specific assumptions. The findings…
While not specifically prohibited in California, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that dental personnel with direct contact with patients refrain from wearing artificial nails, keep natural nail tips short and groomed, and stop wearing jewelry…
Part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training,…
The United States Supreme Court ruled today, by a 6-3 vote, that the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners (NCBDE) does not have the authority to regulate teeth whitening, and that it unreasonably restrained trade in violation of anti-trust law…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that heat-sensitive, reusable, patient–care items used during dental treatment be cleaned and undergo sterilization (critical items) or high-level disinfection (semi-critical instruments) between patients using a chemical sterilant/high-level disinfectant approved by…
