PPE, hand hygiene products, and other equipment/devices necessary for following the standard precautions shown in Table 1 (CDC, 2016b). Although the guide’s main focus is on medical facilities, the great majority of its directives apply to dentistry as well, which is in fact considered an outpatient setting. Attached to this guide is a very straightforward checklist that can serve as an excellent resource for each dental office to evaluate its infection control compliance (CDC, 2016b). In 2016, the CDC published Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings, which did not replace the 2003 guidelines, but added some topics. The guide includes a checklist for dental offices to use in evaluation of their infection control and prevention practices (CDC, 2016c).
caused the CDC to place more emphasis on infection control in these types of facilities. To help ensure better compliance with infection control recommendations, the CDC produced the Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care in May 2011 (updated in 2015 and 2016) (CDC, 2016b). This guide is targeted specifically at outpatient settings and stresses that all healthcare facilities, including dental offices, “must make infection prevention a priority and must be equipped to observe Standard Precautions” (CDC, 2016b). Furthermore, each facility must “ensure that sufficient fiscal and human resources are available to develop and maintain infection prevention and occupational health programs,” inclusive of providing the necessary
CALIFORNIA LAWS
California Dental Practice Act The California Dental Practice Act consists of the basic body of laws governing dentistry found in the California Business and Professions Code (B&P): Division 2, Chapter 4 (beginning with Section 1600), and the California Code California Department of Consumer Affairs The California Department of Consumer Affairs includes 39 regulatory entities that protect public health and safety through licensing and oversight of various professions. These boards and bureaus establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency for licensure in more than 280 business and professional categories, including all health professions (Department of Consumer Affairs, S. of C., 2021). The Dental Board of California is one such board falling within the purview of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, which provides a variety of key administrative services to these semi-autonomous boards. Dental Board of California The Dental Board of California (the Board) is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The stated mission of the Board is to “protect and promote the health and safety of consumers in the State of California” (Dental Board of California, 2021). The Board licenses qualified dental healthcare professionals, takes actions to enforce compliance with the Dental Practice Act and other laws of the State of California, and strives to enhance the education of consumers and licensees. The Board regulates licensed dentists, registered dental assistants (RDAs), and registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs). It also delineates each group’s scope of practice, including any required levels of supervision or any restrictions on the settings in which they may work. Other areas of the Board’s concern include Dental Hygiene Board of California Whereas the Board regulates licensed dentists, RDAs, and RDAEFs, the Dental Hygiene Board of California (formerly the Dental Hygiene Committee of California) now oversees all functions and requirements of all categories of RDHs (California Dental Practice Act, 2019b). The responsibilities of the Dental Hygiene Board include determining the scope
of Regulations (CCR): Title 16, Division 10 (beginning with Section 1000). California law requires every dental professional to have a grasp of this basic body of law and related portions of other selected California statutes. Board members collectively are the leaders of these licensing agencies, and make important decisions on agency policies and disciplinary actions against professionals who violate state consumer protection laws. Board members approve regulations and help guide licensing, enforcement, public education, and consumer protection activities. Some board members are licensed professionals, whereas others are public members. The governor appoints many board members, but the legislature makes appointments as well. State law requires board members within the California Department of Consumer Affairs to complete orientation and training in several important areas, including ethics, conflict of interest laws, and sexual harassment prevention. licensing, examinations, and continuing education (CE) requirements. The Board also sets fees for dentists and for all dental auxiliaries, including fees in connection with initial licensure and license renewal, permits and permit renewals, and examinations. These regulations are set forth for dentists and dental auxiliaries in the CCR (Sections 1021 and 1022, respectively). The Board may inspect the books, records, and premises of any licensed dentist, as well as the licensing documents, records, and premises of any dental assistant in response to a complaint that either entity has violated a law or regulation constituting grounds for disciplinary action. The Board may employ inspectors for this purpose (California Dental Practice Act, 2019a).
of practice for all dental hygienists; issuing, reviewing, and revoking licenses; and developing and administering examinations. Additional functions include adopting regulations and determining fees and CE requirements for all hygiene licensure categories.
CALIFORNIA REGULATORY AGENCIES
Currently, regulations exist that govern infection control in dentistry specific to the state of California. These regulations are contained within the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 16, Professional and Vocational Regulations: Division 10, Dental Board of California,
Chapter 1, Article 1, Section 1005 Minimum Standards for Infection Control. Compliance is mandatory for all dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) in California (California Code of Regulations, 2011). DHCP include “all paid and non-paid personnel in the dental health care setting who
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