The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published recommended best practices to prevent infections during oral surgical procedures. The CDC defines surgical procedures as those that involve the incision, excision, or reflection of skin or oral mucosa…
According to an announcement by the Dental Board of California (DBC), beginning August 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances will be required to report dispensations to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) using the American…
A research study published in the June 2024 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) investigated current trends in dentistry for maintaining water quality in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). While the majority (85%) of respondents recognized the…
Infection control is necessary for protection of dental healthcare personnel and patients. Keep hands clean. Cleaning your hands regularly with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water is a simple yet effective tool to stop the spread of germs.…
The Dental Board of California (DBC) recently announced that beginning August 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances (CS) will be required to report dispensations to an updated version of the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES).…
On March 14, 2024, the Dental Board of California (DBC) issued a fraud alert regarding a recent phishing scam targeting DBC licensees. The DBC alerted the public about a similar, but slightly different nuanced, scam two years ago. Scam artists…
In February, two dental practices faced extreme violence in the workplace. The first occurred on February 7, 2024, at a clinic in New Orleans, when an allegedly unhinged woman entered the dental office, asked to speak with the dentist, and…
X-ray shielding using leaded covers is a common practice that is used to reduce radiation exposure to sensitive tissue. Specifically, shielding of reproductive organs is a long-standing practice that aims to reduce the risk of radiation-induced hereditary effects, and is…
According to the DBC’s Infection Control Regulation, contaminated “critical and semi-critical instruments shall be cleaned and sterilized before use…” Instrument cleaning should be performed using manual or automated processes according to instrument manufacturer’s instructions. If instruments are not cleaned before…
With October marking the beginning of influenza (flu) and cold season and with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) continuing to circulate across the United States, control of aerosol transmissible diseases (ATDs) as well as standard precautions for infection control are essential in healthcare…
