Regulatory Compliance

Cal/OSHA has issued a July 2025 update to its required “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” notice. Practice owners…

Dental facilities with amalgam separators on June 14, 2017 must replace that separator by this date and comply with documentation requirements. Separators must be compliant with either the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) American National Standard/American Dental Association (ADA) Specification 108 for Amalgam Separators (2009) With Technical Addendum (2011) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11143 Standard (2008) or subsequent versions so long as that version requires amalgam separators to achieve at least a 95 percent removal efficiency.

A list of local public health department orders related to COVID-19 vaccination and masking and to mandatory influenza vaccination which affect dental practices within their respective jurisdiction.

By March 30, 2026, employers must allow employees to designate an emergency contact or collect this information from new hires…

A visual resource that provides information on various masks and respirators.  A downloadable and printer-friendly version is available.

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has updated Wage Order 4-2001 to reflect the 2017 and 2018 increases in the state minimum wage. The DIR amended sections 4(A) and 10(C), which also reflect updated meal and lodging credit amounts. The correct industry Wage Order bears a revision date of “12/2016,” which is found on the bottom of the cover page for each Wage Order. Although the Wage Orders are dated 12/2016, they were just released by the DIR. Please note: this change comes after the 2017-18 CDA Required Poster Set printing. Each employer/practice owner is required to print and post the updated Wage Order over the top of the old Wage Order contained in the Required Poster Set. The Required Poster Sets will not be reprinted to reflect this change until the next print cycle in 2019.

A dental practice must have a medical emergency kit for their employees as well as their patients. Learn what it should include.

Use sample plan to describe the practice’s medical waste management and disposal procedures as required by state law. This resource is part of the Regulatory Compliance Manual. Updated June 2024.

All dental practices should follow the nondiscrimination requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Review this summary, checklist and Q&A.

For all employers in the city of Berkeley, Calif., minimum wage increases to $13.75 and increased paid sick leave requirements also become operative effective Oct. 1, 2017. Detailed information and posting requirements about minimum wage requirements can be found on the City of Berkeley’s website. As part of paid sick leave requirements, covered employees accrue one paid sick leave hour for every 30 hours worked; the ordinance is silent with regard to front-loaded allowances. For small businesses, which employ fewer than 25 employees, there is a cap of 48 hours per year; for all other businesses, the cap is 72 hours, though employers can set a higher cap or no cap. Accrued but unused leave carries over from year to year — whether calendar or fiscal year — but cannot exceed the cap. Employers who don’t meet the minimum requirements may still be required to update their written paid sick leave policies.

As announced by the Department of Justice in April 2018, California’s Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES 2.0) is ready for statewide consultation by prescribers. As of Oct. 2, 2018, prescribers must check a patient’s prescription history in CURES 2.0 before prescribing a Schedule II-IV substance, with some specific exceptions. Refer to CDA’s article on mandatory checks for information on the exception applicable to some dentists. Prescribers who have issues accessing CURES can email the DOJ or call 916.210.3187.

Dentists should be aware of other Cal/OSHA safety regulations for which dental practices have been cited.

Format and content, patient access to records and requests to amend, disclosure of information, data breach notification, retention and disposal, transferring records in a sale.

Summary of records release rules with customizable sample form. Patients have the right to access their record and can request paper, film or electronic copies.

Describes patient rights and dental practice responsibilities under HIPAA. Patients must be informed of these rights through the distribution of the covered entity’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

This is the second of four presentations created to train a dental practice’s privacy officer and security officer on the requirements of federal and state privacy laws and on their respective responsibilities. 

Screening patients and other visitors is an essential part of COVID-19 infection prevention. Dental practices must also perform screening in compliance with Cal/OSHA regulations.

This document is intended to address frequently asked questions about personal protective equipment (PPE).

Use this sample form to collect information annually for the dental practice workplace violence prevention plan. This resource is part of the Regulatory Compliance Manual. Created May 2024.

Quick reference chart to understand PPE requirements for dental practices. 

Starting July 1, 2025, an individual can become a California registered dental assistant through a new preceptorship pathway.

A form to document employee’s voluntary declaration of pregnancy and that employee has been informed of facts on occupational radiation exposure and other information.

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.

A zip file with Proposition 65 warning notices in 16 languages and two FAQs. Businesses with ten or more employees post or provide the notices as required. Updated February 2024.

Yes, updates are a hassle. But skipping them could cost you a lot more. Learn how to manage the process and improve your system security.

This quick-reference chart will help you understand the key points of nine new laws and one privacy protection law in California and the required actions for employers. Use it along with linked CDA resources to start your path to compliance.