As California moves forward with reopening the economy and lifting the statewide mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals on June 15, dental practice owners should be prepared to communicate to patients that face coverings will still be required in the dental office.  

Some dentists are unclear about whether to maintain face covering and social distancing requirements in the dental office following the CDC's updated mask guidance for fully vaccinated people. Cal/OSHA has not yet updated its COVID-19 prevention guidance for dental offices. Protocols for masks and social distancing are still required. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 16 signed a bill that requires employers in certain industries statewide to rehire employees who were laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental practice owners who hire and employ an individual janitorial staff member to clean their dental office are considered covered employers and must comply with the new obligations. 

New federal and state paid sick leave laws related to COVID-19 that were recently passed affect small businesses, including some dental practices. Here’s what practice owners need to know about national and statewide paid sick leave laws and how they apply to their dental office.

A recent California Supreme Court ruling that requires stricter meal practices in the workplace underscores the responsibility of dental practice owners to enforce break policies that are compliant with California laws.

With many people working to overcome financial setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, more employers have been focusing their efforts on helping employees improve their financial wellness and save for the future.

CDC released new research suggesting that wearing two masks offers more protection against COVID-19. While the guidance may be effective in many public settings, dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations. 

After a slight decrease in patient volume in November and December, a recent survey by the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reveals a recovery for dental practices in the new year.

The California Supreme Court on Jan. 14 upheld its 2018 decision that employers’ use of the ABC test to classify their workers applies retroactively for the purposes of California wage orders.