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Dental Board begins rulemaking on infection-control standards; public requests clarity on waterline monitoring
Summary
Legislative and regulatory specialist Brent Nelson told the council the board is proceeding with rulemaking to amend Title 16 section 1005 on infection control; the Dental Hygiene Board reached consensus on the text. A commenter asked for explicit language about dental unit waterline monitoring.
Brent Nelson, legislative and regulatory specialist for the Dental Board of California, updated the council on Nov. 6 that the board is beginning rulemaking to amend California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 1005, which sets minimum infection-control standards.
Nelson said the proposed text was approved by the dental board in May 2025 and was forwarded to the Dental Hygiene Board of California; the Hygiene Board approved the text in July 2025 and consensus was reached. Board staff are drafting regulatory documents to begin the formal rulemaking process. Nelson characterized this agenda item as information only; no board action was requested at the meeting.
Leslie Cannon, a registered continuing-education provider and certified infection-control trainer, asked for clarity in the proposed language concerning dental unit waterline (DUWL) monitoring: specifically whether monitoring would be performed according to the DUWL device manufacturer's instructions or according to the instructions on the monitoring-product label. Cannon said explicit language is needed to ensure consistent interpretation and compliance.
What happens next: staff will continue preparing rulemaking documents; the council did not take action on the regulatory text at the Nov. 6 meeting.
