Regulatory Compliance
These are some of the general regulations and recommendations from agencies which effect the practice of dentistry. They may apply to the ''standard of care'' in infection control as do those recommendations from then Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or they may impose actual regulatory compliance as with the Dental Board of California, OSHA and the California Department of Public Health.
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The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is the US Public Health Service which keeps track of trends in infectious disease in the United States. Since 1991 they have recommended, and OSHA has required, the use of protective attire and hepatitis B vaccination to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the U.S. Department of Labor and is responsible for developing and enforcing workplace safety and health regulations. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH is an agency established to help assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by providing research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health.
The Dental Board of California (Board) is the regulatory board for the practice of dentistry in the state of California. The Board licenses qualified dental health care professionals, takes action to enforce compliance of the Dental Practice Act and State of California laws and strives to enhance the education of consumers and licensees.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California ( Hygiene Board) is the regulatory board for the practice of hygiene in the state of California. The Hygiene Board licenses qualified hygienist, takes action to enforce compliance of the Dental Practice Act and State of California laws and strives to enhance the education of consumers and licensees.
There are two divisions at the San Diego County Health Department which affect dental offices. The first deals with biomedical waste. This includes sharps, medical solid
waste, pharmaceutical waste, and biohazardous waste. It also includes all other waste streams from the dental office; both chemical which require disposal, (fixer), and recycled waste (lead foil, batteries).
The second division deals with radiation safety. They now require dental offices to have a Radiation Safety & Prevention Program (RSS) which must be updated on an annual basis. Employees are required to be trained each year on the safe use of x-ray equipment as well as a review of the exposure to monitoring devices (dosimeters).