The Most Overlooked Dental Risks of 2025: Key Compliance Fixes to Make Before January
As the year wraps up, it’s worth taking a quick look at the small operational risks that quietly build up throughout a busy dental year. None of these are dramatic, but they’re exactly the things that cause compliance headaches, audit trouble, or clinical inconsistencies later on.
Take a look at these top overlooked risks we see — and the simple fixes you can tackle now.
1. Outdated Consent Forms
Many offices are still using older versions of surgical, radiology, or screening consents without realizing it.
Fix:
Review every form your team uses. Update missing language, remove duplicates, and confirm that your digital workflow actually stores the signed copy.
2. Sterilization Drift
When schedules get tight, small shortcuts sneak in: missing logs, inconsistent spore tests, or overly packed cassettes.
Fix:
Run a quick sterilization audit. Check biological indicator logs, equipment maintenance, and load documentation. A 20-minute reset prevents big problems.
3. No Quick Onboarding for Temp Staff
Temp hygienists and assistants keep offices running — but they often get little-to-no OSHA or HIPAA orientation.
Fix:
Create a one-page “temp safety checklist” covering PPE, sharps, emergency equipment, and sterilization flow.
4. Incomplete Periodontal Charting
Bleeding points and mobility notes are often inconsistent, especially on busy days.
Fix:
Audit a handful of charts this month. Make sure the whole team is aligned on six-point charting and diagnosis.
5. Poor Documentation of Abnormal Oral Findings
Suspicious lesions, radiolucencies, and non-healing areas often get mentioned verbally but documented lightly.
Fix:
Standardize your documentation: description, photo, communication to patient, and a follow-up date. This one change dramatically reduces risk.
6. SDS & Emergency Kit Gaps
This is the classic year-end oversight: expired AED pads, missing SDS pages, oxygen tanks not checked.
Fix:
Do a 15-minute “safety sweep” this week. It’s the easiest win on the list.
Setting your clinic up for success in 2026 starts with these few simple steps. Make the most of them.
Visit MyDentalCE courses to see how we can help.