Learn Today, Prevent Tomorrow! Infection Control for Dental Professionals (3 CEs)

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the purpose, scope, and intersection of CDC infection control guidelines and OSHA regulatory standards to distinguish between recommended best practices and mandated requirements in dental settings.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of current infection control protocols and workplace safety measures within their own clinical environments to identify gaps in compliance and risk points.
3. Differentiate the six links in the chain of infection and assess how breakdowns in clinical workflows contribute to disease transmission and occupational exposure.
4. Apply evidence-based techniques for hand hygiene, PPE selection and use, sharps safety, instrument processing, and environmental infection control in alignment with both CDC and OSHA standards.
5. Interpret OSHA requirements related to hazard communication, bloodborne pathogens, exposure control plans, and engineering/work practice controls as they pertain to dental practice settings.
6. Examine sterilization, disinfection, and dental unit waterline protocols to determine compliance with current guidelines and identify opportunities for improvement.
7. Develop or refine standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for infection control and OSHA-related tasks using structured, research-supported frameworks.
8. Construct actionable workflow modifications that reduce cross-contamination risks and improve team compliance with infection control and workplace safety protocols.