Infection Control

The CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings—2003 are the standard of care for infection control in dentistry. This report provides recommendations regarding:
1) educating and protecting dental health-care personnel;
2) preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens;
3) hand hygiene;
4) personal protective equipment;
5) contact dermatitis and latex hypersensitivity;
6) sterilization and disinfection of patient-care items;
7) environmental infection control;
8) dental unit waterlines, biofilm, and water quality;
9) special considerations (e.g., dental handpieces and other devices, radiology, parenteral medications, oral surgical procedures and dental laboratories).