The Dental Board told stakeholders Aug. 14 that it will move ahead with a comprehensive rulemaking to amend California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 1005, which sets minimum standards for infection control in dental settings.

Process and status: Board staff submitted proposed regulatory text to the Dental Hygiene Board of California for review and consensus; the hygiene board approved that text at its July 19 meeting. Board regulatory counsel reported that the proposed regulation is voluminous and technically complex and that preparing the rulemaking file will take time and require careful drafting and a standard public-notice and comment period.

Why it matters: Infection-control rules set minimum safety expectations for dental offices and are tied to Centers for Disease Control guidance. The board emphasized that the package will be discussed in detail, and that stakeholders will have a 45-day public-comment period once the formal rulemaking package is published.

Quote from meeting materials: Regulation counsel described the project as a "very voluminous, complex, and, interesting, regulation that will require extensive work to develop. So it's a long term thing." The board asked stakeholders to watch for the formal 45-day public-comment period and submit written comments at that time.

Next steps: Board staff and regulation counsel will draft the complete rulemaking file, publish the 45-day notice, accept public comments, and then return to the board for further action after considering public input.

Sources: Aug. 14, 2025 Dental Board meeting; presentation by Brent Nelson and regulation counsel.