On September 23, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to control dental amalgam effluent that will be published in the Federal Register. The rule would require most dentists to install best available control technology, amalgam…
While not prohibited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that dental personnel with direct contact with patients refrain from wearing artificial nails, keeping natural nail tips to no longer than ¼ inch in length. Artificial nails have…
In order to prevent needle sticks, OSHA prohibits dental practitioners from performing unsafe work practices during needle handling. During patient care, it is important to always handle contaminated needles safely: Do not pass or accept exposed contaminated needles to/from another…
Dentists have options when disposing of medical waste, consisting of red-bag waste and contaminated sharps, generated in their offices. Many states allow medical waste generators to use approved mail-back systems for medical waste disposal, which provide a simple, economical alternative…
Biofilms are microbial communities that form on the walls of the small-bore plastic tubing that delivers water from the dental unit through the dental handpieces, scalers, and air-water syringes to the patient. Currently, no quantitative water quality standards specific to…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory notifying dental practitioners to take care when using dental dispensers on multiple patients. Multiple-use dental dispensers, also called dental “syringes” are devices used to deliver various dental products such as impression…
We have received calls in the past from dentists asking if they are required to pay for a sign-language interpreter for hearing-impaired patients. The short answer to the question is – it depends. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires dentists…
On March 28, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a new security risk assessment tool to help small to medium sized offices conduct a risk assessment of their organizations. The tool is designed to help practices…
California Dental Continuing Education (CCR 1015-1017) – Each dental practitioner must obtain, from a DBC-approved registered CE provider, a specific number of CE units during each renewal period, every 2 years. Dentists need 50 units per renewal cycle, while RDAs,…
It depends. Cal/OSHA requires a permit if the air compressor tank is 1.5 cubic feet in volume or larger, OR when the safety valve is set greater than 150 pounds per square inch (psi). Tanks with less than 1.5 cubic…
