Bloodborne pathogens: current concepts

In the early 1980s, the AIDS hysteria began to gain momentum. As a direct result of this phenomenon, the delivery of dental care changed dramatically. By 1989, most dentists had begun to accept the concept of universal precautions and compliance with infection control recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Organization for Safety & Asepsis Procedures. The emergence of bloodborne pathogens from the 1970s has been a significant milestone in the history of the dental profession. Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus are commonly encountered in the modern dental practice, and dental providers need to have a thorough knowledge about bloodborne diseases and the dental management of patients presenting with these diseases.