Public HealthDental HygieneInfectious Disease ControlInfection PreventionMedical MicrobiologyOral MicrobiologyHealthcare-associated Infection PreventionInfection ManagementMicrobial ControlOral HygieneOral InfectionsStandard PrecautionsDental Infection ControlInfection Control PrecautionsInfection Prevention PlanningOral Pathogenic MicroorganismsPersonnel Asepsis
Proper infection control procedures help to protect dental practitioners, patients, and the surrounding community. The two basic goals of dental asepsis are simple and straightforward: minimize the spread of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and neutralize organisms that have contaminated dental instruments, equipment, and other office environmental surfaces. Meeting these goals, however, can be complicated. A valuable tool would be the generation and maintenance of a written set of infection control procedures ("an office infection control manual"). One way to organize a procedures manual is to arrange required tasks in response to specific pathways of cross-infection. Also, the effectiveness of an infection control program can be positively affected by office design.