In March 2018, the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners suspended a dentist from practicing dentistry for professional misconduct for “failure to follow the current guidelines of the American Dental Association” for dental infection control. According to an investigation by…
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that an alarming 30% increase in emergency department visits due to opioid overdoses throughout the United States from July 2016 through September 2017. We ALL need to take…
The regulations for monitoring occupational exposure to x-ray radiation, also referred to as dosimetry, arise directly from federal regulations, 10 CFR 20, which are the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standards. Federal radiation requirements are enforced either directly by the NRC…
In December 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule banning 24 ingredients found in over-the-counter (OTC) antispetics used for hand hygiene in the healthcare industry. The final rule becomes effective on December 20, 2018. According…
Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the new amalgam separator rule on the EPA’s website. The FAQ document provides detailed answers to various questions such as “Who must comply with…
The Dental Board of California (DBC) added information to its website relating to prescription drug abuse. The DBC’s online information includes the DBC’s acknowledgement of the opioid epidemic, the DBC’s recommendations on how to combat the problem, and links to…
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) published a new white paper entitled Opioid Prescribing: Acute and Postoperative Pain Management which details opioid use guidelines for managing a patient’s acute and postoperative pain. In addition to staunchly affirming…
The American Dental Association (ADA) just posted an important news article for dental office personnel touting the importance of cybersecurity training for staff to help prevent ransomware attacks. According to the ADA, ransomware is “a type of malicious software that…
The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, that all personal protective equipment (PPE), including gowns, lab coats, gloves, masks, and protective eyewear or face shield, to be worn…
According to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), over a quarter of private dental practices who participated in the survey did not have…
