by Olivia Wann and Caitlin Denison

Recently, a dental practice received a serious OSHA citation for contaminated laundry being handled unnecessarily or with what the inspector described as “excessive agitation.” This was surprising, as in 26 years of consulting we have not previously encountered this type of violation.

by Olivia Wann

Thirty-four percent of dentist owners plan to retire within six years according to Dental Post’s 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report. If you are interested in selling a practice or buying a practice, there are important legal considerations. Selecting a lawyer who understands the many facets of dentistry to prepare or review a buy-sell agreement is to the dentist’s advantage.  Here’s my top ten reasons why:

by Olivia Wann, JD

Specialty dentists such as oral surgeons, periodontists, orthodontists, and endodontists depend heavily on relationships with general dentists who refer patients for treatment. Hosting a continuing education (CE) event is one of the most effective ways to strengthen those relationships while providing genuine value to the referring community. A well-planned CE program positions the specialist as a trusted resource, encourages collaboration, and keeps colleagues informed about evolving clinical techniques.

by Olivia Wann

OSHA is here!  Help!  Are you practicing in Tennessee and have experienced a recent unannounced OSHA inspection?  You are not alone.

Week to week, dental practices are reaching out to us explaining that a Tennessee OSHA inspector stopped in for a random audit.  Quite a number of practices experienced citations, although such citations only amounted to a few hundred dollars.  What is this all about?

by Olivia Wann, JD

Imagine the frustration of patients living in Memphis who were treated by a local dentist whose records were left behind in a storage unit. 

According to the individual who purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit, he found thousands of dental records to include x-rays, intake forms, billing records and billing information that included patients’ social security numbers. He was quoted as saying, “This wasn’t one or two files, this was thousands of thousands of files.” 

by Olivia Wann, JD

As we close out 2025 and say hello to 2026, it’s a great time to look back at the past 12 months and take a “compliance inventory.” Assess how well your practice achieved the goals of infection control, and OSHA and HIPAA compliance.

by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH

Let’s say you’re getting ready to do a quadrant of scaling and root planning (SRP). You have a sensitive patient with deep pockets, so you’ve decided that local anesthetic is the best way to manage the patient’s pain and keep them comfortable during the procedure. You plan to administer the MSA and ASA blocks.

In situations like this, where we are giving injections at multiple sites, there are a few practices to keep in mind for patient and clinician safety, as well as regulatory compliance.

1. Always prepare your injection in a clean area free from contamination. Disinfect the rubber septum on the anesthetic carpule before puncturing it.
2. Never use a needle for more than one patient. While a single needle may be used to inject multiple sites on the same patient, this same needle may not be used on another patient. Remember, needles are single-use items and cannot be sterilized and reused.
3. Always sterilize your re-usable injection syringe between patients. Unlike needles, most dental aspirating syringes can be sterilized and reused.
4. Always recap the needle if it must be set down between injections to prevent injuries. Ensure that recapping is never done using two hands or any other technique that could direct the needle towards any part of the body. Use either a single-handed scoop technique for recapping, or a mechanical device designed to hold the needle cap.
5. Always place used needles in a puncture resistant sharps container that is labeled as biohazard. This container should be located as close as feasible to the area where the injection is given.
6. Never pass uncapped needles to another user.
7. Ensure that the Practice’s exposure control plan contains an explanation of why recapping is required as well as the procedure that is followed for safe recapping (single-hand technique or recapping device). OSHA may request this policy in the event of an inspection.

Common Citations and how to avoid them

by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH

It’s no secret that Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) has been out and about making visits to dental offices across the state for the past few months. It’s also no secret that being unprepared for an inspection can be not only stressful for the staff and owners, but also financially damaging due to fines, and increases in payroll costs required by employees handling the complex abatement process. So, what has TOSHA been citing lately? Let’s take a look:

by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH

As a company, MPS is always on the lookout for the newest guidance and standard interpretation as it relates to OSHA and HIPAA compliance, so we can pass it along to you. We frequently discuss hazards and recent inspections with industry leaders, practices, and regulatory agencies, to allow you to focus on treating patients.

by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH

As dental providers, we are experts at looking out for the well-being of our patients. As providers and responsible citizens, we must also ensure that our activities do not negatively impact the environmental health of our communities.

To help prevent mercury from amalgam waste from contaminating the environment, the EPA has established regulations requiring most dental offices to use an amalgam separator¹.  An amalgam separator ensures that amalgam particles suctioned during a procedure stay out of wastewater. Although there are a few exceptions to this rule, most dental practices must comply.

There are several products available to help practices comply with this requirement. One option is an amalgam separator that filters all suction waste from the practice’s operatories, such as the NXT Hg5 by Solmetex. This device simply filters incoming suction waste before it discharges to the wastewater system. Larger offices with multiple operatories that handle amalgam waste may find this solution to be convenient.

Another option is the Dove Capt-all device. This solution goes straight to the source of the amalgam waste and simply fits onto the dental suction. The device separates out any amalgam waste before it enters the suction tubing. Smaller offices that rarely conduct procedures involving amalgam waste may find this device useful, as it can be attached and used as needed.

As with all dental equipment, these devices do require care when maintaining and disposing of them. With a practice-wide amalgam filter like the Solmetex product, the practice must ensure that the filter is checked and changed as needed to ensure optimal filtration. When the filter is changed, it must be disposed of as amalgam waste and cannot be thrown away in general waste. Having a reminder on the office calendar can help ensure this task is completed. Remember, when it comes to compliance, documentation is key, so, be sure to document all filter checks and changes.

The Capt-all device must also be disposed of as amalgam waste. As with the Solmetex filters, disposal should be documented. Both Solmetex and Capt-all can provide appropriate amalgam waste containers that are compatible with their products.

When applicable, amalgam waste documentation should also include records of inspections of the separator, container replacement, disposal of waste via an appropriate vendor or facility, and documentation of any repairs or replacements².

Oftentimes, offices are doing requirement maintenance and disposal tasks but simply aren’t maintaining adequate documentation. Remember, from a regulatory perspective, you don’t get credit for a task unless it’s documented!

In addition to documenting these tasks, most dental offices (including some that are otherwise exempt from the EPA’s rule) must also submit a one-time compliance report to the office’s Control Authority². The EPA page for dental effluent guidelines has resources to help you find your office’s control authority.  

The other major issue we encounter frequently is improper disposal of amalgam fragments or teeth containing amalgam. Remember, these items must be disposed of through an amalgam recycling service. Amalgam should not be placed in regular trash or biohazard waste³.

By prioritizing proper disposal practices, dental practices can provide excellent care and ensure a healthier future for our patients, our communities, and the planet.

1: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Dental office category: Frequent questions [PDF]. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/documents/dental-office-category_frequent-questions_nov-2017.pdf

2: Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the dental category. Federal Register, 82(113), 27154–27187. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/06/14/2017-12338/effluent-limitations-guidelines-and-standards-for-the-dental-category 3: American Dental Association. (n.d.). Best management practices for amalgam waste [PDF]. American Dental Association. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/library/oral-health-topics/topics_amalgamwaste_brochure.pdf