How long must a dental office keep records for inactive adult patients?

In California, dental offices are required to maintain records for inactive adult patients for a minimum of seven years. This regulation ensures that important patient information, including treatment details and medical history, remains accessible for a significant period after a patient has stopped receiving care. Retaining these records for seven years allows for the potential review of past treatments that may impact future care, provides documentation for any legal or regulatory inquiries, and upholds the professional duty to keep patient records in a manner consistent with good practice standards and patient rights.

Keeping records for longer than this minimum time frame can be beneficial for comprehensive patient care continuity and reference. However, after the seven-year mark, if there are no longer active patients, dental offices may opt to securely destroy these records unless there are specific factors that necessitate longer retention, such as ongoing disputes or legal claims.