Dental Regulatory Compliance
Dental practices, DSOs, and oral surgery centers.
2,069
Total Enforcement Actions
1,776
Actions This Year
—
Total Penalties Tracked
2,069
Critical / High Severity
Regulatory Overview
Dental practices are regulated by state dental boards for licensure, OSHA for infection control and bloodborne pathogens, and OCR/HHS for HIPAA compliance. Dental service organizations (DSOs) face additional scrutiny from state boards concerned about corporate practice of dentistry and OIG regarding Medicaid billing. FDA regulates dental devices and radiological equipment.
Primary Enforcement Focus
State dental board license actions and OSHA citations lead enforcement volume. OIG targets Medicaid pediatric dental fraud. HIPAA breaches (ransomware) are increasing.
Common Violation Patterns
Infection Control Deficiencies
Failure to properly sterilize instruments, reuse of single-use items, inadequate surface disinfection — leading to patient notification events.
Medicaid Pediatric Billing Fraud
Billing for procedures not performed, unbundling, and excessive pulpotomies — the top OIG target in dental enforcement.
HIPAA Ransomware Breaches
Small dental practices are disproportionately targeted. OCR OCR phase 2 audit focus includes security risk analysis failures.
State Board License Violations
Practicing without current DEA registration, unlicensed staff performing restricted procedures, continuing education failures.
Enforcement Actions — Dental
Violations Signal Board
Latest Dental NewsAll
Key Regulations
29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne Pathogens
OSHA standard requiring written exposure control plan, hepatitis B vaccination, PPE, and sharps handling procedures.
State Dental Practice Acts
Each state defines scope of practice for dentists and dental hygienists, supervision requirements for auxiliaries, and discipline procedures.
HIPAA 45 CFR Parts 160 & 164
Dental records are PHI. Ransomware attacks on small dental practices are a leading cause of HIPAA breach reports to OCR.
CMS Medicaid EPSDT Requirements
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandates dental coverage for pediatric Medicaid enrollees. High OIG audit focus area.
21 CFR Part 892 — Radiological Devices
FDA regulations on dental X-ray equipment. State radiation control programs add inspection requirements.