Category: Legal Issues

This month we will continue the series of common legal issues in the dental office. Last month we discussed animals in the office and the commercial activity tax. This month we will look further into use tax, the terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license, how to interact with government agencies and patient record retention. 8.) Use ... [continue reading]

Last month’s column provided an update on the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules that would ban the use of restrictive covenants in almost all employment contracts and the subsequent litigation filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others to challenge those rules. This month we are taking a deeper dive into the FTC’s new rules and ... [continue reading]

We have heard from members across the state that one of the benefits of being a member of the Ohio Dental Association is being able to reach out to gain information regarding legal issues in their offices. While the ODA cannot give direct legal advice that a member can act upon, we can give you important information to help you make determinations ... [continue reading]

Regular readers of this column know that non-compete clauses are regularly included in dentist employment contracts, and, as I have written in the past, employment contracts are far more common in dentistry today than in the past. Many young dentists enter their careers as employees when they graduate from dental school. Some of them will pay ... [continue reading]

Dentists are well respected professionals and are trusted members of any community. As such, state law and the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (Code) place obligations upon dentists to report abuse and neglect at certain times. It is important for dentists to be familiar with the legal and ethical requirements surrounding ... [continue reading]

In this column of the “ODA Today” I try to be cognizant of questions I am hearing from members and help relay answers to common questions or hot topics. This edition is no different and comes about due to questions that I have heard over the last few months. The main question that I am referring to in this article is what can I do about credit ... [continue reading]

In communication with patients, other practices or other practitioners there are certain circumstances where records can be requested, and it is important to understand your responsibilities when those scenarios arise. Ohio Revised Code section 3701.74, which includes dentists and dental hygienists by definition, is clear on one thing in this ... [continue reading]

Dental radiographs provide information critical to the identification and treatment of oral health problems. For example, radiographs are the only reliable way to view the bone, roots, attachments, interproximal areas and under and around restorations. Despite the significant benefit of such images, some patients refuse to have radiographs taken ... [continue reading]

A well-defined office manual can be of great benefit to a dental practice. Employment issues are some of the most difficult matters to confront as a small-business owner. Oftentimes, the best way for employer dentists to avoid the common problems that arise with employees is to establish an office employee manual. Establishing an employee ... [continue reading]

As spring inches near so does everyone’s favorite time of the year, tax season. That’s a terrible joke from a recovering tax attorney. But I did want to take the time to write about a few of the taxes that affect dental offices and encourage members to use tax professionals when navigating these waters. In this spring season everyone thinks of ... [continue reading]