Have concerns about a dentist?

Dentists are required by law to retain patient records. In general, patient records must be maintained for at least ten years after the date of the last entry in the patient’s record. In the case of a minor, these records must be kept for at least ten years from the date the patient turned 18.

Financial records should be kept for the same retention period described above. Copies of paper dental claim forms must be maintained for at least two years.  However, dentists can decide whether and how long to retain copies of other correspondence with insurance companies about dental insurance claims.

Diagnostic or study models are considered part of the patient’s record. Working models do not have to be retained for any specific period of time.  A decision to keep working models should be based on the complexity of the case and is left to the judgement of the individual practitioner.

Dentists must maintain patient confidentiality when disposing of dental records. Chart records and  other documents must be properly destroyed either by shredding or incineration. Dentists must ensure that appropriate safeguards are taken to protect the patient’s personal health information . They may discard photographs, x-rays and models in the garbage once patient identification/identifying labels  have  been removed, obliterated or rendered illegible.

Dentists are the custodians of their patient records.