Dentists I have a question about sterilization of equipment. Is the following legal?
It’s a very good thing you are doing your homework. You can call the ADA and ask them if putting instruments in drawers is according to the “standard of care” for a typical dentist. I will actually suggest writing them and attempting to get a written response. The ADA establishes the “standard of care” dentists follow. As an example, dentists are forbidden to tell you that amalgam fillings are bad for your health. They can lose their license to practice if they do so, even if that is what they believe. No matter how overwhelming the evidence is, if they violate that “standard of care” established by the ADA, they lose their license. The ADA is NOT on your side and will do everything they can to protect the dentist. That is why you want their response in writing. Then they have to be more careful about what they tell you.
