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6.1 Infection Control
Since 1987, the Ohio State Dental Board has mandated appropriate infection control in dental offices. The Board’s infection control manual is intended to provide a guideline for licensees to follow to maintain compliance with the provisions set forth in Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code Chapters 4715 regarding infection control in the dental office. The manual clarifies the board’s laws and rules and includes references to resource materials. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard should form the basis of the clinic’s infection control program. The standard requires that health care facilities develop a written plan governing the potential exposures of staff to potentially bio-hazardous materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for the enforcement of the standard. Updated information on the standard can be found on the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Web site. Frequently asked questions about the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act are also available. Post-exposure management of needlestick and other contaminated-sharps injuries is an important component of infection control. The National Clinicians Post Exposure Prophylaxis hotline, available 24 hours a day at (888) 448-4911, offers up-to-date information on this topic. Recommended Infection Control Practices for Dentistry, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also provide guidelines for oral health professionals. Both the CDC guidelines and the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard require an exposure-control plan. The Air Force Dental Evaluation and Consultation Service has developed a sample exposure-control plan. The following guidelines and policies offer information on infection control in the dental clinic:
The OSHA Web site also offers information on regulations governing hazardous materials used in dentistry. |
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The field of dental infection control is always evolving. Up-to-date
information can be obtained from the 
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