Federal regulations determine if radiation dosimetry monitoring is necessary in a dental office. Dental employers are not required to perform individual personnel dosimetry monitoring unless dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are likely to receive a radiation dose in excess of 10…
As of July 1, 2024, California employers are required to have a customized written workplace violence prevention (WVP) plan and to provide annual WVP training to their employees. Training must also be conducted when changes to the WVP plan are…
In the dental profession, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require that employees or employers receive CE units or attend outside OSHA courses. The basic premise of OSHA's training requirements, for all employers in the US,…
With the end of the year drawing near, as we prepare to usher in 2025, December is a good time to review and evaluate office safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance and their effectiveness. Using a safety assessment checklist…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published recommended best practices to prevent infections during oral surgical procedures. The CDC defines surgical procedures as those that involve the incision, excision, or reflection of skin or oral mucosa…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) establishes recommendations for all dental healthcare personnel to follow to ensure proper infection prevention and control in dental settings. On its Oral Health website, the CDC has published valuable best practice…
In September 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 1453, the Dental Board of California’s (DBC’s) sunset review bill, was chaptered into California law, which codifies substantial changes to the 8-hour infection control course requirements established under Business and Professions Code section 1755…
The California Medical Information Act (CMIA), which differs slightly from the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), was updated in 2004 to require healthcare providers to obtain annual written authorization from a patient for certain disclosures of protected…
The , formerly known as the Organization for Safety and Asepsis (OSAP), is sponsoring Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM) in September, asking stakeholders to support and promote dental safety throughout the month. The theme for 2024 is "Embracing a…
Each year, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including influenza (flu) and…
