Infection Control in Dentistry

Infection Control for the Dental Professional                       

Dental healthcare providers (DHCP) have a professional responsibility to implement proper infection control practices. Federal and state standards and guidance protect clinician and patients against the transmission of potentially infectious agents. This course will provide a comprehensive review of clinical compliance as it relates to the regulations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and governed by state professional licensing boards. The speaker will detail the mandatory requirements dental offices must perform in order to be fully compliant, including hand hygiene, waterline asepsis, sterilization and disinfection and standard precautions.                                                               

  While risk has also been an inherent component in the practice of dentistry, the prevalence of Covid-19 infection throughout the world has heightened our awareness of specific infection control measures, such as respiratory hygiene., environmental infection control and personal protective equipment. This course will acknowledge and discuss the additional challenges associated with treating patients during a public health pandemic.

Learning Objectives:

• List and define important terms in infection control.
• Understand the CDC\'s Guidelines for Infection Control in the Dental Setting and its implementation in clinical practice.
• List standard precaution measures mandated by state and federal guidelines.
• Explain the responsibility of dental healthcare professionals to adhere to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control.
• Define the chain of infection and present strategies for prevention and control of pathogens.
• Demonstrate the proper use of infection control principles and practices for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization in dental healthcare settings.
• Identify the principles and practices designed to identify, manage and prevent infectious and communicable diseases, including bloodborne pathogens in dental healthcare workers.
• List and describe appropriate PPE for DHCP.
• Describe correct hand hygiene procedures.
• Assess options for optimal environmental asapsis.
• Determine strategies to treat and maintain dental unit waterlines.
• Identify the correct sterilization techniques for non, semi, and critical instruments, devices and surfaces.
• Understand additional considerations for treating patients during the Covid - 19 pandemic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Erin Kierce RDH, BA, MS, MPH is the chief compliance officer for New England Family Dentistry in Marlborough, Massachusetts and Adjunct Faculty of Graduate studies at MCPHS , University in Boston, Massachusetts. After twelve years of practicing dental hygiene ,Erin has devoted her career to clinical compliance, safety and risk management. She has developed, implemented and maintained compliance and safety systems for multiple dental offices of varying specialties throughout New England including establishing standards and policies pertaining to regulatory requirements.  Erin has presented continuing education courses in the areas of pediatric oral health, chronic diease management, maternal oral and obstetrical health, clinical compliance, documentation and record-keeping, infection control and OSHA and quality assurance. She is a member of the AAPHD, the ADHA and Alpha Eta and Sigma Phi Alpha Honor Societies.