Radiation machine inspections are following their typical schedules during the pandemic, and dental practice owners are reminded to ensure they are properly documenting occupational exposure to radiation and maintaining those records. 
 

Every dental practice, whether it is required to install an amalgam separator to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency rule, must complete and submit a one-time compliance report to the local sanitation agency or the California State Water Resources Control Board. 
 

Most dental facilities that have not already installed an amalgam separator to comply with an Environmental Protection Agency rule must do so by July 14. The EPA rule, published in June 2017, requires dental facilities to collect all waste amalgam.

CDA Practice Support has received inquiries from CDA members and staff regarding the recent spread of the new coronavirus to California. In China, the virus has affected more than 8,000 people and killed more than 200, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency to mobilize resources to contain the spread of the disease.

Some hospitals in the U.S. have stopped the practice of covering patients’ reproductive organs during radiographic examinations, but CDA reminds dentists that current state regulation requires that protective aprons be used during dental radiography. The move by hospitals follows an April 2019 recommendation by the American College of Radiology and other medical groups, Kaiser Health News reported last month.

Will your practice be in compliance in 2020? Multiple state and federal agencies are charged with regulating dental practices, and it can seem challenging to stay ahead of regulatory compliance processes. As you shop and prepare for the year ahead, it’s critical to be informed of environmental regulations that impact your practice.

Health care facilities that produce pharmaceutical hazardous waste are required to properly manage the disposal of that waste according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Among other provisions, the EPA’s finalized rule issued in July prohibits facilities from pouring pharmaceutical hazardous waste down sink drains or toilets, a practice known as “sewering.”

Most dental facilities that have not installed an amalgam separator to comply with a rule published in June 2017 by the Environmental Protection Agency must install an amalgam separator by July 14, 2020. CDA Practice Support’s resource “Amalgam Separator Requirement — Q&A” was recently updated to reflect recent developments and can assist members with compliance.

No later than Aug. 30, 2018, dental practices that employ 10 or more employees must post at the entrance of the office the new Proposition 65 warning notice, unless the practice chooses instead to provide a warning with an informed consent form. The form must be signed by the patient prior to exposure to the chemicals regulated by Proposition 65.