Patients are entitled to their copies of their records. Section 18 of the Public Health Law requires that, upon written request from a patient, the patient be given access to their dental records within 10 days. This access relates to the right to physically inspect the records.

Upon written request from a patient, a dentist must provide within a reasonable time, copies of the patient records. The dentist may charge the patient a reasonable sum for all inspections and copies, though the sum is not to exceed the actual costs incurred by the dentist. In no case may the charge for paper copies exceed $.75 per page. The actual cost of duplicating radiographs and study models may be charged, provided the charge is reasonable. A patient is entitled to copies even if they fail to pay for the records.

Secton 18 of the Public Health Law requires that the records be provided first, and that collection of the copying charge, or any other outstanding balance owed by the patient, be collected later.