What does a dentist need to report to local law enforcement and the DEA?

In the context of dental law and ethics, dentists have specific reporting obligations to local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) when it comes to certain incidents involving controlled substances. Accidental disposal of medications falls under this responsibility because it can pose risks related to controlled substance management, potential misuse, and public safety. This type of incident needs to be reported to prevent any illegal access to these medications that could occur through improper disposal or mishandling.

The other options do not have the same level of legal obligation for reporting. Results from a patient survey, while potentially informative for practice improvement, do not relate to legal compliance or monitoring of controlled substances. Prescription refill frequencies and violations of practice regulations, while important aspects of dental practice oversight, are not specifically mandated to be reported to local law enforcement or the DEA. Hence, the focus of reporting should be on situations that directly impact the regulation and security of controlled substances, solidifying the choice regarding accidental disposal of medications as the correct one.