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Orthodontic Practice Management

Academics review indicates support to take signs down

For a number of years, businesses with more than nine employees have been required to post a Prop 65 hazardous warning sign, primarily due to the nickel and chromium used in the manufacture of stainless steel appliances.

Due to minimal amounts of these materials found in appliances, CAO worked with CDA and the California Attorney General to have orthodontists exempted from the Prop 65 sign posting requirement.

In the Spring of 2004, three years after our initial efforts on this issue began, we received written confirmation from the Attorney General (AG) confirming that orthodontists are cleared from Prop 65 regulations regarding nickel and chromium as noted above.

CDA has cautioned that there may be other materials listed in Prop 65 that apply to materials found in orthodontic offices.

We contacted several California orthodontic departments and asked them to review the entire list (over 200 chemicals and materials).

Their informal review did not reveal other chemicals or materials that would be present in a typical orthodontic practice.

But is this really the end of the Californian orthodontists' struggle with posting the Prop 65 warning signs?

Even with the AG's written clearance of the nickel and chromium posting requirement, we recommend that CAO members personally review Prop 65 frequently to be certain that none of the listed materials and chemicals are being used.

Bear in mind that the list is not static, as new items are frequently added.

The current Prop 65 list can be found at http://www.oehha.org/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html.

Assuming CAO members conduct such a review and determine that no Prop 65 chemicals or materials are present in their respective offices, CAO supports removal of the warning sign.

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