Infection Control
Essentials
Protecting Patients, Coworkers, and Yourself Every Day
Infection Control Essentials
Introduction
Introduction
Preventing infection in the dental office starts with good habits. This lesson is all about trying to achieve asepsis, a germ-free environment. We’ll look at how the chain of infection can be broken, five key steps of infection control, standard precautions, and aseptic hand hygiene techniques. We’ll also connect why hand hygiene is essential in the dental office, including when and how to perform each different technique. These practices are the foundation of infection control and will protect your patients, your coworkers, and yourself every day.
Infection Control Essentials
5 Steps to Asepsis
5 Steps to Asepsis
Asepsis is the state of being free from disease-causing microorganisms. We try to achieve asepsis by using aseptic techniques to create conditions that reduce harmful microorganisms in the dental office. There are five key steps that help us do this in the dental office. First we practice hand hygiene. Keeping your hands clean is the single most important step to stop the spread of infection. Next up, we wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and gowns called PPE. Then we clean and disinfect surfaces between each patient. We also clean and sterilize instruments before reusing them. And last, but not least, we safely dispose of waste and sharps in proper containers. Following these steps can break the chain of infection and prevent germs from spreading in the treatment area.
Infection Control Essentials
The Chain of Infection
The Chain of Infection
Infections spread through a series of six links known as the chain of infection. The infectious agent is the harmful microorganism itself. Breaking any one link can stop the spread! The six links are: 1. Infectious agent – controlled by sterilization/disinfection,2. Reservoir – reduced by cleaning the environment,3. Portal of exit – controlled by PPE (masks, gloves),4. Mode of transmission – stopped by hand hygiene & surface barriers,5. Portal of entry – blocked by PPE, safe practices,6. Susceptible host – protected by vaccinations & overall health. Watch the quick YouTube Short to become familiar with each link. Then take a look at the preventive measures that target each link to help us break the chain of infection.
The Chain of Infection
Infection Control Essentials
Standard Precautions
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are infection control steps that must be followed for every patient, regardless of whether they show signs of illness. These precautions assume that all blood, saliva, and other body fluids may carry infectious microorganisms. That means staff must always wear protective equipment, clean and disinfect surfaces and tools between patients, and wash or sanitize their hands often. These precautions are required by organizations such as the CDC and OSHA, and following them helps keep both staff and patients safe from infection.
Infection Control Essentials
When to Perform Hand Hygiene
When to Perform Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the foundation of infection control. Following CDC guidelines, you should wash or sanitize your hands at the start and end of the day, before and after contact with every patient, before putting on and after removing gloves, and before handling clean instruments. You should also clean your hands after touching contaminated items or surfaces, before and after eating, and after using the restroom. When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated, you must wash with soap and water. If your hands aren’t visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is a quick and effective option. Here is when you should wash your hands: -At the start and end of each day, -Before and after patient contact, -Before donning and after removing gloves, -Before handling clean instruments, -After touching contaminated surfaces, -Before and after eating or restroom use, and -Whenever hands are visibly soiled
Infection Control Essentials
3 Go-To Hand Hygiene Techniques
3 Go-to Hand Hygiene Techniques
There are three main techniques for hand hygiene that you’ll use in the dental office: clinical often called routine handwashing, alcohol-based hand rub, and a surgical hand scrub. Clinical handwashing requires good ole antimicrobial soap and water for about 15 to 20 seconds. You’ll use this technique to start and end your day. You’ll also use it when your hands are visibly soiled, gloves tear, or you’ve been exposed to blood or saliva. Alcohol-based hand rubs are used when hands are not visibly dirty. They are fast, highly effective, and less drying than soap and water. For this technique, you’ll apply enough to cover the surfaces of your hand and rub until dry. The surgical hand scrub is used before surgical procedures. It involves scrubbing the hands and forearms with antimicrobial soap for four to six minutes, sometimes followed by an alcohol-based rub. This reduces microorganisms as much as possible and is common in oral surgery.
Infection Control Essentials
Beyond the Basics – Aseptic Handwashing
Beyond the Basics – Aseptic Handwashing
The aseptic handwashing technique is more than just hand hygiene. It applies when preparing and handling certain injections and other sterile items used with them. It’s basically a step above clinical handwashing, but not as extensive as a surgical scrub. The CDC requires aseptic technique for safe injection practices, especially with parenteral medications. Parenteral medications are those given by injection, bypassing the digestive tract. They must be prepared using aseptic technique in a clean area free from contamination or contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated equipment. Using aseptic technique helps prevent contamination and protects the patient. The most common parenteral medications you will encounter are local anesthetics, sedation agents, analgesia medications, and emergency drugs. Local anesthetics are given routinely for restorative and surgical care. Sedation and analgesic medications are often used in oral surgery or specialty practices. And, emergency drugs like epinephrine or diphenhydramine, are given if a patient has a severe reaction. Even though you won’t administer injections as a dental assistant, you may help prepare the materials, set up for IV sedation, or pass sterile items. In all of these cases, aseptic handwashing ensures a higher level of cleanliness than routine handwashing. It supports safe practices in dental care and prevents contamination of syringes, needles, IV lines, and vials to protect the patients.
Infection Control Essentials
Hand Care
Hand Care
Hand care is an important part of infection control because healthy skin is the body’s first line of defense against germs. You should always dry your hands thoroughly before putting on gloves, since moisture can promote bacterial growth. Use lotion to prevent dryness, but avoid products with petroleum or mineral oil because they weaken gloves. And, keep your nails short and smooth, remembering not to wear artificial nails or polish, since they collect bacteria. Jewelry should also be removed because it can trap microorganisms and tear gloves. By taking care of your hands, you’ll help keep yourself, your patients, and your coworkers safe.
Infection Control Essentials
Summary – Clean Hands, Safe Office
Clean Hands, Safe Office
Every action you take in the dental office can either stop or spread infection. By choosing safe habits and practicing aseptic techniques, you’ll protect your patients, your coworkers, and yourself every single day.
Clean Hands Save Lives!
Infection Control
Essentials
The chain of infection describes how infections spread, moving from a source of microorganisms, to a mode of transmission, and finally to a susceptible host. Breaking any link in this chain — through hand hygiene, PPE, or sterilization — stops the spread of disease.
Infection Control Essentials (DACP 112 W2L1)
Gustavo Sanchez
Created on September 5, 2025
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Transcript
Infection Control
Essentials
Protecting Patients, Coworkers, and Yourself Every Day
Infection Control Essentials
Introduction
Introduction
Preventing infection in the dental office starts with good habits. This lesson is all about trying to achieve asepsis, a germ-free environment. We’ll look at how the chain of infection can be broken, five key steps of infection control, standard precautions, and aseptic hand hygiene techniques. We’ll also connect why hand hygiene is essential in the dental office, including when and how to perform each different technique. These practices are the foundation of infection control and will protect your patients, your coworkers, and yourself every day.
Infection Control Essentials
5 Steps to Asepsis
5 Steps to Asepsis
Asepsis is the state of being free from disease-causing microorganisms. We try to achieve asepsis by using aseptic techniques to create conditions that reduce harmful microorganisms in the dental office. There are five key steps that help us do this in the dental office. First we practice hand hygiene. Keeping your hands clean is the single most important step to stop the spread of infection. Next up, we wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and gowns called PPE. Then we clean and disinfect surfaces between each patient. We also clean and sterilize instruments before reusing them. And last, but not least, we safely dispose of waste and sharps in proper containers. Following these steps can break the chain of infection and prevent germs from spreading in the treatment area.
Infection Control Essentials
The Chain of Infection
The Chain of Infection
Infections spread through a series of six links known as the chain of infection. The infectious agent is the harmful microorganism itself. Breaking any one link can stop the spread! The six links are: 1. Infectious agent – controlled by sterilization/disinfection,2. Reservoir – reduced by cleaning the environment,3. Portal of exit – controlled by PPE (masks, gloves),4. Mode of transmission – stopped by hand hygiene & surface barriers,5. Portal of entry – blocked by PPE, safe practices,6. Susceptible host – protected by vaccinations & overall health. Watch the quick YouTube Short to become familiar with each link. Then take a look at the preventive measures that target each link to help us break the chain of infection.
The Chain of Infection
Infection Control Essentials
Standard Precautions
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are infection control steps that must be followed for every patient, regardless of whether they show signs of illness. These precautions assume that all blood, saliva, and other body fluids may carry infectious microorganisms. That means staff must always wear protective equipment, clean and disinfect surfaces and tools between patients, and wash or sanitize their hands often. These precautions are required by organizations such as the CDC and OSHA, and following them helps keep both staff and patients safe from infection.
Infection Control Essentials
When to Perform Hand Hygiene
When to Perform Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the foundation of infection control. Following CDC guidelines, you should wash or sanitize your hands at the start and end of the day, before and after contact with every patient, before putting on and after removing gloves, and before handling clean instruments. You should also clean your hands after touching contaminated items or surfaces, before and after eating, and after using the restroom. When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated, you must wash with soap and water. If your hands aren’t visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is a quick and effective option. Here is when you should wash your hands: -At the start and end of each day, -Before and after patient contact, -Before donning and after removing gloves, -Before handling clean instruments, -After touching contaminated surfaces, -Before and after eating or restroom use, and -Whenever hands are visibly soiled
Infection Control Essentials
3 Go-To Hand Hygiene Techniques
3 Go-to Hand Hygiene Techniques
There are three main techniques for hand hygiene that you’ll use in the dental office: clinical often called routine handwashing, alcohol-based hand rub, and a surgical hand scrub. Clinical handwashing requires good ole antimicrobial soap and water for about 15 to 20 seconds. You’ll use this technique to start and end your day. You’ll also use it when your hands are visibly soiled, gloves tear, or you’ve been exposed to blood or saliva. Alcohol-based hand rubs are used when hands are not visibly dirty. They are fast, highly effective, and less drying than soap and water. For this technique, you’ll apply enough to cover the surfaces of your hand and rub until dry. The surgical hand scrub is used before surgical procedures. It involves scrubbing the hands and forearms with antimicrobial soap for four to six minutes, sometimes followed by an alcohol-based rub. This reduces microorganisms as much as possible and is common in oral surgery.
Infection Control Essentials
Beyond the Basics – Aseptic Handwashing
Beyond the Basics – Aseptic Handwashing
The aseptic handwashing technique is more than just hand hygiene. It applies when preparing and handling certain injections and other sterile items used with them. It’s basically a step above clinical handwashing, but not as extensive as a surgical scrub. The CDC requires aseptic technique for safe injection practices, especially with parenteral medications. Parenteral medications are those given by injection, bypassing the digestive tract. They must be prepared using aseptic technique in a clean area free from contamination or contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated equipment. Using aseptic technique helps prevent contamination and protects the patient. The most common parenteral medications you will encounter are local anesthetics, sedation agents, analgesia medications, and emergency drugs. Local anesthetics are given routinely for restorative and surgical care. Sedation and analgesic medications are often used in oral surgery or specialty practices. And, emergency drugs like epinephrine or diphenhydramine, are given if a patient has a severe reaction. Even though you won’t administer injections as a dental assistant, you may help prepare the materials, set up for IV sedation, or pass sterile items. In all of these cases, aseptic handwashing ensures a higher level of cleanliness than routine handwashing. It supports safe practices in dental care and prevents contamination of syringes, needles, IV lines, and vials to protect the patients.
Infection Control Essentials
Hand Care
Hand Care
Hand care is an important part of infection control because healthy skin is the body’s first line of defense against germs. You should always dry your hands thoroughly before putting on gloves, since moisture can promote bacterial growth. Use lotion to prevent dryness, but avoid products with petroleum or mineral oil because they weaken gloves. And, keep your nails short and smooth, remembering not to wear artificial nails or polish, since they collect bacteria. Jewelry should also be removed because it can trap microorganisms and tear gloves. By taking care of your hands, you’ll help keep yourself, your patients, and your coworkers safe.
Infection Control Essentials
Summary – Clean Hands, Safe Office
Clean Hands, Safe Office
Every action you take in the dental office can either stop or spread infection. By choosing safe habits and practicing aseptic techniques, you’ll protect your patients, your coworkers, and yourself every single day.
Clean Hands Save Lives!
Infection Control
Essentials
The chain of infection describes how infections spread, moving from a source of microorganisms, to a mode of transmission, and finally to a susceptible host. Breaking any link in this chain — through hand hygiene, PPE, or sterilization — stops the spread of disease.