For how long must adult dental records be maintained?

Adult dental records in Iowa must be maintained for a minimum of six years from the date of the last appointment. This requirement ensures that records are accessible for a reasonable period for both patient care continuity and legal purposes, such as potential malpractice claims.

The six-year retention period is aligned with the state’s regulations, which aim to balance the need for access to patient information with the practicalities of storage and resource management in a dental practice. Maintaining records for this duration supports both the ethical responsibility of dental hygienists and the legal obligations they must adhere to within their professional practice.