# What are California dental records and confidentiality rules?

Answer: Inspection is due within 5 working days and copies are due within 15 days after a written request. Unpaid balances do not justify withholding records, radiographs, summaries, or other lawful disclosures. Correct charts with transparent addenda instead of deletion, overwriting, or backdating.

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Answer intent ID: `california-law-ethics-records-confidentiality`
Cluster: California dental law and ethics exam
Last verified: 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
Reviewed by: Mahtab Mansour, DDS on 2026-04-25T00:00:00.000Z

## Direct answer

Inspection is due within 5 working days and copies are due within 15 days after a written request. Unpaid balances do not justify withholding records, radiographs, summaries, or other lawful disclosures. Correct charts with transparent addenda instead of deletion, overwriting, or backdating.

## Query patterns

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Source citations:
- `A9` HSC section 123110 patient inspection, copies, form/format, fees, and unpaid-balance rule. Primary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=123110.>
- `A10` HSC section 123145 record preservation on closure. Primary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=123145.>
- `A15` BPC sections 1680, 1684.1, 1684.5, and related enforcement and patient-of-record provisions; BPC §§1800-1808 (dental corporations); Corporations Code §13400 et seq. (Moscone-Knox). Primary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/>
- `A26` HSC sections 123111 and 123130 patient addendums and record summaries. Primary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/>
- `A48` SB 446 and Civ. Code section 1798.82 California breach-notice update to a 30-calendar-day deadline effective 1/1/2026. Primary. Verified 2026-03-24. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB446>
- `A67` WIC section 14124.1 Medi-Cal (Denti-Cal) provider record retention, 10-year minimum from service, audit completion, or contract end, whichever is later. Primary. Verified 2026-06-09. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=14124.1.>
- `A68` HSC section 123115 limits on a minor's representative inspecting records and good-faith detrimental-effect denial standard. Primary. Verified 2026-06-09. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=123115.>
- `B1` California confidentiality overlay: CMIA and state breach law. Secondary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/>
- `B2` HIPAA privacy, security, and breach rules. Secondary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164>

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