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Obtaining written consent from the patient before releasing any patient information is crucial to adhere to privacy regulations and ethical standards in dentistry. This requirement is rooted in laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mandates that patient information be kept confidential and only disclosed with the patient's permission, typically in written form.

Written consent ensures that the patient is fully informed about what information will be shared, with whom it will be shared, and for what purpose. This helps to protect patient autonomy and fosters trust between the patient and dental healthcare providers. It also serves as a legal safeguard for the dental practice, ensuring that the release of information is documented and compliant with relevant laws.

In comparison, verbal consent lacks the formal documentation needed to verify that a patient has agreed to the release, which could lead to misunderstandings or disputes. Notifying only the dentist does not fulfill the legal requirement for consent from the patient themselves. Lastly, releasing information without consent undermines patient privacy and could result in legal repercussions for the dental practice. Thus, securing written consent is the appropriate and lawful action that dental assistants must take.