Update on Infection Control Compliance Issues for Dental Practitioners

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article outlines major findings and resources from the past three years that relate to dental patient safety, infection control noncompliance factors and antibiotic resistance, and it discusses options available to help improve dental practitioner infection control compliance.

Recent Findings

Recent findings have identified the need for further research in the field of patient safety in dentistry; dental infection control noncompliance factors illustrate a need to strategize for improved infection control compliance, best practices for antibiotic prescribing in dentistry have been issued; and updated dental infection control resources are available.

Summary

Through social media and mainstream news accounts, the public is increasingly aware of, and concerned about, dental-related infection control breaches. By understanding the compliance issues that lead to infection control breaches, practitioners can better maintain public trust and meet their patients' expectation for safe oral healthcare. This article outlines major findings and resources from the past 3 years that relate to dental patient safety, infection control compliance factors, and antibiotic resistance, and includes an overview of updated dental infection control resources available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), and American Dental Association (ADA).

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