Summarizes state laws which aim to protect the personal and confidential information of its residents. Laws cover business obligations with regard to personal information, electronic eavesdropping, website tracking and more.

Does a dental plan continuously deny, delay or underpay your claims or repeatedly fail to comply with legal or contractual requirements? Have you exhausted the plan’s internal provider appeal process? If your answer is yes, your next step is to escalate the issue to the dental plan’s regulator.

The Cybersecurity Toolkit equips dental practices with essential support to prepare for, respond to and recover from cyberattacks. It includes practical checklists, response plans and step-by-step expert guidance to help safeguard patient data and keep your practice up and running. A list of multiple government agencies with cybersecurity resources for small businesses and healthcare entities is included below.

Leave covered under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) must be designated as CFRA-protected and the employer must inform the employee of the amount of leave that will be counted against the employee’s CFRA leave entitlement within five days of the employee’s request.

Checklist to help guide a dentist in determining if participation with a new plan fits their model/scope of dentistry, and what to review when evaluating existing plans accepted in the dentist.

Information and options for managing medical, hazardous, and universal wastes. Includes a list of mail-back vendors.

As a member service, CDA has compiled a list of dental plans from the Department of managed Health Care website.

The quickest and easiest way to verify dental benefits for your patients is through the dental plans’ convenient online portal access where you can view, download, and print a patient’s benefit breakdown. This form may be used when verifying patients' dental benefits via telephone or to supplement the information provided on the dental plan’s online portal.

Q&A on state and federal DEA requirements for prescribing, dispensing and administering controlled substances and non-controlled substances and on CURES, the state’s controlled substance database. Includes prescription form requirements and sample forms to obtain consent to prescribe controlled substances to a minor.

Overview of the payment arrangements to consider once an Associate begins providing treatment in a dental practice. 

This information aims to assist members in safeguarding themselves by outlining the steps they can take when faced with attempted scams.

Short-term employees are considered employees by the State of California and require additional documentation. This toolkit covers hiring, paying and terminating temporary employees.

This guidance outlines what you need to know when bringing non-traditional workers, temporary employees, minors and observers into the practice, including wage and hour obligations, supervision requirements, patient confidentiality, workplace safety, insurance considerations, and best practices for reducing risk.

A comprehensive resource to help employers navigate the complexities of CFRA compliance as of July 2026, including determining employee eligibility, meeting time-sensitive obligations and managing leave.

When a patient requests a copy of their records, the dental practice must follow specific procedures. Written policies regarding how and when you provide a patient with their records ensures your practice team consistently follows both state law and HIPAA rules. Transparent communication with patients will also reduce potential liabilities.

FAQ on infection control, other Cal/OSHA regulations, training, personal protective equipment and inspections. This resource is part of the Regulatory Compliance Manual. Updated March 2024.

A summary of state required employee training that employers are required to provide  and related requirements. Does not include training required for licensure or license renewal.

Individual cities and counties across California have passed local ordinances relating to minimum wage and sick leave laws — with eligibility rules varying from city to city. Check with local city government as to whether any local minimum wage ordinances may apply to employees in your practice. Periodically check local websites as rates in these cities could change at any time.

Lists posters required at dental offices and required pamphlets. Poster sets are distributed to practice owners biennially. This resource is part of the Regulatory Compliance Manual. Updated May 2026.

The promotion of dental software using artificial intelligence seems overwhelming as vendors and others promote the benefits of their use. The benefit potential of artificial intelligence is high but so are the risks if users implement it without knowing its limitations and potential risks. The dental practitioner must be able to separate the hype from reality, be cognizant of applicable laws and regulations and be transparent with patients and employees when using artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making and procedures, along with administrative functions. This article highlights current laws and regulations and how they impact a dentist’s use of artificial intelligence. It will be reviewed and updated regularly.

For the safety of your patients and to provide quality dental care, all medical and dental health information should be current and accurate. Patients must review and update their health history form regularly. Maintaining up-to-date health information is essential to delivering safe, effective care to patients while protecting you from risk.

California eavesdropping law requires an individual give authorization before or when another individual or entity records them speaking in private conversation. This sample consent form is provided in response to increasing interest by dental practices to use artificial intelligence-enabled software to record patients and treatment providers in order to draft notes for the clinical chart.

Best practices for developing a job description outlining required qualifications, expectations and job duties for every employee. Includes sample descriptions for key positions in the dental practice.

 Learn more about the information blocking rule, which permits patients and others greater access to patient information. The rule is part of the 21st Century Cures Act, a federal law.

Customize sample plan to describe how the practice complies with safe work practices, communicates with staff and more. This resource is part of the Regulatory Compliance Manual. Updated June 2024.

All employers are required to provide a set amount of paid sick leave (PSL) to employees who work California. The law establishes minimum requirements, but employers have options with how they provide and manage the time.