Dental OSHA compliance resources covering required employee training, written exposure control plans, infection control protocols, and regulatory requirements for dental practices nationwide.
The November 2026 issue of Dental Bytes covers a new study linking dental disease with liver cancer risk, OSHA’s workplace opioid overdose guidance, research on xylitol and cardiovascular events, a CDC reminder on preventing seasonal flu, a HIPAA right of…
The Dental Board of California is proposing amendments to California’s Infection Control Regulations (Title 16, Section 1005) that would require an internal chemical indicator inside every instrument package undergoing sterilization in a California dental practice. If the internal indicator cannot…
Do you know how long your dental practice must keep employee medical and exposure records? Because occupational illnesses may not become apparent for many years, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to maintain certain employee medical…
When a dental assistant or hygienist learns she's pregnant, one of the first questions is usually about X-rays: is it still safe to take them? The short answer is that dental X-ray work can generally continue during pregnancy with the…
The October 2026 issue of Dental Bytes covers a flu season reminder for dental teams, National Dental Hygiene Month, a Colorado license suspension involving infection control lapses, the final part of the ADA’s oral cancer living guideline, an updated AHA…
As flu season approaches, dental practices should review their procedures for protecting patients and dental healthcare personnel (DHCP). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a multi-layered approach that includes vaccination, respiratory hygiene, appropriate management of ill…
The September 2026 issue of Dental Bytes covers updated federal guidance on antibiotic prescribing, two September observances focused on infection prevention and patient safety, regulatory relief for small dental practices, new research on dental opioid prescribing, and a reminder about…
Dentistry is rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Long hours, time pressures, patient anxiety, perfectionism, financial and operational responsibilities, and the physical demands of clinical care can all contribute to chronic stress. Over time, unmanaged stress can affect not…
Arkansas dental practices are required to monitor their sterilizers with biological spore tests as part of the state's infection control standards. The authority comes from Article XV of the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners Rules (Rule 038.00.07-001), which sets…
Louisiana dental practices must run biological spore tests on every autoclave to verify sterilization. The requirement comes directly from the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry under Louisiana Administrative Code Title 46, Part XXXIII, Chapter 12, §XXXIII-1206, which mandates that each…
