The document is a compilation of current regulations, guidance, and practice tips assembled by national and international dental infection prevention experts.
The Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing, and DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, a nonprofit organization working on issues related to transforming the health care system and enabling better health through oral health, have teamed up to release a best practices guidebook for dental care personnel.
“Best Practices for Infection Control in Dental Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic” is a compilation of current regulations, guidance, and practice tips assembled by national and international dental infection prevention experts. The subject matter experts who compiled the document completed an extensive review of guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), as well as other. From this guidance, the experts sought to develop straightforward instructions addressing all the major aspects of safely engaging in dental practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The document is intended for dental clinicians, front office staff, and other personnel who might be occupationally exposed to infectious materials, including body substances and contaminated supplies, equipment, environmental surfaces, water, or air. It includes checklists which walk dental health practitioners though preparing the dental clinic prior to patient appointments and for delivering safe patient care. Moreover, it includes a resource section that includes links to relevant OSHA and CDC documents. The document also includes a number of tools for the dental practice, including a patient triage form, respiratory protection plan checklist, PPE donning/doffing checklist, and employee screening log for COVID-19.
The guide was prepared by OSAP through an educational grant from DentaQuest.
