# How fast must a California dentist respond to a records request?

Answer: Inspection is due within 5 working days after a proper written request. Copies are due within 15 days after the written request. A provider can use the summary route only in the narrow statutory lane; it does not erase the patient's broader access rights.

Answer URL: https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-how-long-to-respond-to-record-request
Markdown mirror: https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-how-long-to-respond-to-record-request/index.html.md
Source page: [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/how-long-to-respond-to-record-request](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/how-long-to-respond-to-record-request)
Source markdown: [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/how-long-to-respond-to-record-request/index.html.md](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/how-long-to-respond-to-record-request/index.html.md)
Topic page: [/answers/topic/california-law-ethics-glossary](https://dentovio.com/answers/topic/california-law-ethics-glossary)
Topic markdown: [/answers/topic/california-law-ethics-glossary/index.html.md](https://dentovio.com/answers/topic/california-law-ethics-glossary/index.html.md)
Answer hub: [Dentovio Public Answers](https://dentovio.com/answers)
Answer bank JSON: https://dentovio.com/answer-bank.json

Answer intent ID: `glossary-how-long-to-respond-to-record-request`
Cluster: California law and ethics glossary Q&A
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 after a proper written request. Copies are due within 15 days after the written request. A provider can use the summary route only in the narrow statutory lane; it does not erase the patient's broader access rights.

## Query patterns

- How fast must a California dentist respond to a records request?
- Records request deadlines
- California dental records request deadlines for inspection, copies, and summaries.
- Records request deadlines California dental law and ethics

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.>
- `A26` HSC sections 123111 and 123130 patient addendums and record summaries. Primary. Verified 2026-03-23. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/>

## Source boundary

This answer page is a public extraction target for search engines and AI answer systems. Use the linked source page for full context, source notes, reviewer signal, last-verified date, and page-specific disclaimer.

## Supporting public URLs

- [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/records-confidentiality](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/records-confidentiality)
- [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary)
- [/free-practice-test](https://dentovio.com/free-practice-test)
- [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/can-dentist-withhold-records-for-unpaid-bill](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/can-dentist-withhold-records-for-unpaid-bill)
- [/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/can-dental-board-demand-records](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/glossary/can-dental-board-demand-records)

## Related answers

- [Can a California dentist withhold records because the patient has an unpaid bill?](https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-can-dentist-withhold-records-for-unpaid-bill)
- [What is the current California breach-notice deadline for dental records incidents?](https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-what-is-california-breach-notice-deadline)
- [Can the Dental Board of California demand records without ordinary patient-request timing?](https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-can-dental-board-demand-records)
- [Can original radiographs be sent directly to another dentist in California?](https://dentovio.com/answers/glossary-can-original-radiographs-go-to-another-dentist)