For how long must records for minor patients be kept?

The correct answer reflects the requirement that records for minor patients must be retained until they reach the age of 19. This is essential for ensuring that minors, who may require ongoing dental care and whose legal status changes once they reach adulthood, have their dental records accessible up to a certain point after their legal age of majority, which is typically 18. Retaining the records until the age of 19 provides an additional year to account for any transitional care needs, ensuring proper documentation is available to support their continued dental health.

Other retention periods, such as simply keeping records until the age of 18, do not take into account this additional year of care coverage needed for minors. While records retention for adult patients might focus on 7 years after the last visit or the departure from practice, the specific consideration for minors necessitates adherence to the age of 19, aligning with applicable laws that protect the rights and health needs of younger patients.