The Oregon Board of Dentistry now requires all dental professionals to be up-to-date with the guidelines and regulations concerning infection control. This class provides a review of CDC guidelines and recommendations for infection control practices in dentistry, emphasizing the Infection Control Guidelines of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Rationale for recommended practices will be discussed and scenarios will be presented to help dental healthcare workers identify and reduce risk of spreading disease to providers and patients.

Objectives:
Review standard precautions
Discuss effective and appropriate hand hygiene practices
Evaluate use of personal protective equipment
Determine when and where to use surface disinfection and/or barriers
Learn the rules regarding sterilization methods and monitoring
Identify safe injection methods
Describe handling and disposal of sharps and biohazard waste
Review management of occupational exposures

Dr. Kent received her PhD from Harvard University in Boston, MA and has been involved with basic science education of medical, dental and dental hygiene students at OHSU since 1990. She is currently the Director of Quality Improvement and Health & Safety Officer, as well as, a professor of Integrative Biosciences at Oregon Health & Science University. She oversees infection control practices in the School and supervises operations in the new central sterilization facility. In addition to chairing the school’s Quality Improvement Committee, Dr. Kent serves on the OHSU Hospital Infection Control Committee, University Safety Committee, Worker Safety in Clinical Environment Committee, and the Research and Academic Emergency Planning Committee. She is a member of the Organization for Safety & Asepsis Procedures.

Oregon Health & Science University is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.