Our nonclinical staff members want to close the office and leave the minute the last patient is gone. They don’t understand that we need to clean the operatories/sterilize instruments prior to leaving. Is this a legal issue?

I would like to use a thumb brace to hopefully reduce work-related pain. Does this pose a threat to the fit of my gloves?

Are gel pens acceptable for patient charting, or is the preferred implement still a black ballpoint pen?

We have a new dental hygienist who said her previous office’s waterlines were heated. Wouldn’t this pose a bacteria risk?

When I was in school and a patient presented with one or two quadrants of localized periodontal disease, we treated those areas and then continued the patient as a prophylaxis. I have colleagues who keep patients on a prophy only if they…

I work in a rear-delivery system, which is causing side and back problems. Any suggestions how to do chair set up to prevent such issues?

My office uses iPads for patient check-in. Are there any issues regarding securing informed consent on such a device?

We use a variety of different surface disinfectants to clean our operatories. How do I know that I am using the best one with the correct contact time to ensure disinfection? Disease transmission from environmental surfaces is generally…

At my practice we recommend fluoride toothpaste, oral hygiene techniques, xylitol, and diet changes for those at high risk of decay. I also consider dry mouth. However, I often feel like we are going in circles with no changes noted. Any…

During my review, I was penalized for taking too much time on medical histories. I am concerned that if I am not thorough, I may be liable if something goes wrong.