Class code 8869-2 — Dental Office

This classification is designed for dental offices, covering dentists, hygienists, and support staff who provide preventive and restorative dental care in a private practice setting.

Daily work includes cleanings, exams, fillings, extractions, and other chairside procedures, along with sterilizing instruments and operating dental equipment such as drills and x-ray machines. Support staff handle scheduling, billing, and patient intake, while hygienists and assistants work closely with patients throughout each appointment.

Payroll includes dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and front-office staff. The main injury drivers are needlestick exposure from injections, repetitive strain from prolonged chairside positioning, and minor cuts from handling sharp instruments, giving this classification a distinct risk profile from a general medical office.

During an audit, expect questions about how chairside hours are split between the dentist, hygienists, and assistants, since payroll allocated correctly among these roles keeps the classification accurate even though most fall under the same code. Underwriters also ask about sharps-handling procedures and whether the practice uses safety-engineered needles, since that detail speaks directly to needlestick frequency. Practices that document sterilization protocols and staff training on infection control tend to present a more favorable loss-control picture to carriers.