A cohort study in the May 2019 issue of JAMA Network Open found that 81% of prescriptions for antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental visits did not follow current guidelines. Compared with previous recommendations, there are currently relatively few patient subpopulations for whom antibiotic…
Both OSHA and state dental boards require dental personnel to adhere to infection control standards in the office, including the use personal protective equipment (PPE). Most people know what should be worn to protect themselves from bodily fluids – exam…
The compliance date for existing dental offices to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) effluent limitations to reduce the sewer discharge of mercury and other metals is a little over a year away. On July 14, 2020, existing dental offices…
Tobacco use and dependence is one of the most important public health issues in the United States. It is a chronic disease that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking…
Saturday, April 27th is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs, and the majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet…
Establishing and cultivating a culture of safety and well-being in the workplace is an integral part of an office health and safety policy. And it starts with valuing employees and treating them with respect, especially since most OSHA inspections are triggered…
In the last 10-20 years, the misuse and diversion of prescription opioids has risen to epidemic levels in the United States.Dentists can play a major role in recognizing and preventing prescription opioid misuse. Many organizations offer tools to help healthcare…
In late February 2019, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 149, which is expected to be signed into law next week and delays implementation of AB 1753 from 2019 to 2021. The bill includes an urgency clause meaning the…
Two main regulatory agencies, the Dental Board of California (DBC)and Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), require employee education and training in a dental office. However, they have separate requirements with very different objectives. Employee safety is the sole focus of Cal/OSHA…
In July 2017, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new ruletook effect which requires dental offices to reduce the discharge of mercury and other metals from dental offices down the sewer drain to publically owned treatment works (POTWs). One of the…
