Keeping a Risk-Free Dental Team

While general dentists focus on maintaining their own licenses and knowledge about their own scope of practice, they do not always pay careful attention to the state requirements governing their assistants and hygienists. Licensure (where required) and regulatory compliance are obligations of the individual dental auxiliary. However, the employing dentist and dental practice is ultimately liable for adverse outcomes attributable, in whole or part, to the acts of dental assistants and hygienists. For this reason, it is important that dentists and dental practice owners are both knowledgeable about the regulations, including scope of practice, of their staff and that they maintain careful records of staff compliance with governing laws and regulations.

For more information, read the full Legal Matters column from the March issue of AGD Impact.