Infection Control, Patient Records, and Mandatory Reporting
Infection control
Nevada requires dental practices to follow current infection-control standards, generally aligned with CDC guidance and Board regulations. Core duties include hand hygiene, appropriate gloves/masks/eye protection, surface barriers and disinfection, sterilization of critical instruments, sharps safety, and exposure control. Each office should have written protocols and training. A hygienist must comply even if an employer's routine is lax.
Patient records
Records must be accurate, legible, timely, and sufficient to justify treatment. They include history, charting, radiographs, consent, medications, and communication. Patient information is confidential; release requires patient authorization or a legal exception. Never backdate, alter, or destroy records to avoid a complaint.
Mandatory reporting
Nevada law makes dental professionals mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect and elder/vulnerable-adult abuse. Reports go to the designated state or local agency, not merely to a supervisor. Some jurisdictions also require reporting of impaired colleagues or unlicensed practice; follow the specific Nevada statute and Board rule.
Worked example
A hygienist notices bruises and a story inconsistent with the injury in a child patient. She documents objective findings, ensures the child's safety, and reports to the appropriate child-protective agency. She does not investigate or confront the parent, and she does not let the dentist's preference override the legal duty.
Traps
Confidentiality does not block a mandated report. 'I told the dentist' is not a legal report. Do not record speculation as fact; document observations and statements accurately.