{"id":241,"date":"2019-10-04T14:31:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T14:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=241"},"modified":"2025-09-08T08:24:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T12:24:02","slug":"legal-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal services"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Legal services<\/h1>\n<p><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Answers to your legal questions<\/h3>\n<p>Welcome to the MDA Dentistry and the Law archive of legal questions and answers. This section contains a wide range of useful legal information on many facets of dental practice. The questions and answers in this section have all been compiled from the MDA\u00a0<em>Journal\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>\u201cDentistry and the Law\u201d column, which appears every month.<\/p>\n<p>How to use this archive: Legal information is organized by the categories listed below. Click on a category, such as \u201cBilling issues,\u201d and you\u2019ll see a number of Q&amp;A articles under that category. In addition, each article contains topic tags. Clicking on a topic tag will filter all articles associated with that tag, making it easy to find related articles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTE: The columns that appear on these pages are the opinion of the author and do not constitute legal advice from the Michigan Dental Association.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Also check out the MDA\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"\/Legal-Questions-eBook\"><em>Most-Asked Legal Questions<\/em><\/a>\u00a0ebook, for guidance on a variety of legal issues, and\u00a0<a title=\"Opens in a new window\" href=\"https:\/\/store.michigandental.org\/product-category\/practice-resources\/legal-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>The Dentist&#8217;s Guide to Michigan Law<\/em><\/a>, which contains all of the applicable laws, reference codes, and legal citations affecting dentists. which are arranged in 57 subject headings.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=&#8221;35&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;square-link-block-group&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;drop-shadow-box&#8221;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1703856623274{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/\">Dentistry and the law<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"children\">\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/antitrust-issues\/\">Antitrust issues<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/billing-issues\/\">Billing issues<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/dealing-with-dental-insurers\/\">Dealing with dental insurers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/dental-records\/\">Dental records<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/employee-issues\/\">Employee issues<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/insurance\/\">Insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/licensure-and-regulation\/\">Licensure and regulation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/managed-care\/\">Managed care<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/practice-operations\/\">Practice operations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/dentistry-and-the-law\/treatment-issues\/\">Treatment issues<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;drop-shadow-box&#8221;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1703856707922{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/most-asked-legal-questions-book\/\">Most-Asked Legal Questions book<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"children\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.michigandental.org\/product\/most-asked-legal-questions-digital-edition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Digital edition<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.michigandental.org\/product\/dentists-guide-to-michigan-law-print-edition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Print edition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;drop-shadow-box&#8221;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1757334201179{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/sample-legal-forms\/\">Sample legal forms<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"children\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dental-Record-Disposal-Authorization-Letter.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Authorization to destroy dental record<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Authorization-to-Release-Dental-Health-Info.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Authorization for release of dental health information<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Confidentiality-Agreement.doc\">Confidentiality agreement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Confidentiality-Ethics-Standards.doc\">Confidentiality and ethics standards<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Guaranty-Payment-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guaranty of payment for dental services<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Health-History-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Health history form<\/a> (PDF)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Health-History-Form.doc\">Health history form<\/a> (DOC)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Refusal-of-Treatment-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Informed refusal form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Patient-Consent-to-Treatment.doc\">Patient consent to treatment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Photo-Release-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Photo release form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sample-Dental-Records-Policy.doc\">Policy for protecting, maintaining, and accessing Dental Records<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Release-of-Liability-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Release and settlement agreement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sample-Dental-Record-Transfer-Letter-and-Authorization.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Retiring dentist and release of records<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Written-Acknowledgment-of-Fees.doc\">Written acknowledgment of fees<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=&#8221;35&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;square-link-block-group&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;drop-shadow-box&#8221;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1703856795048{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"\/practice-resources\/legal-services\/tax-fraud-idtheft\/\">Tax fraud and ID theft<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>If you believe for any reason that your identity may have been compromised, please complete each of the listed steps.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_row_inner equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1696267617038{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text] Legal services [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Answers to your legal questions Welcome to the MDA Dentistry and the Law archive of legal questions and answers. This section contains a wide range of useful legal information on many facets of dental practice. The questions and answers in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":13356,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-template-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Welcome to the MDA Dentistry and the Law archive of legal questions and answers, containing a range of legal information on dental practice.","_seopress_robots_index":"","protect_children":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-241","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-11-17 08:51:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23846,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/241\/revisions\/23846"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}