Current clinical attire requirements for dental hygiene students

The American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control are currently stressing the need for protective clinical attire and barrier techniques to reduce cross-contamination and the spread of diseases. They strongly recommend disposable or clean, reusable gowns, lab coats, or uniforms during treatment of all dental patients. Surgical masks, gloves, and protective eyewear are also recommended. The program directors of 197 dental hygiene programs in the United States were surveyed to determine how these recommendations affect the current clinical attire requirements for dental hygiene students and clinical faculty. All of the programs responding to this survey required protective eyewear and gloves for both students and faculty. Seventy-seven percent of the programs responding required students to wear uniforms while working on clinical patients. Surgical gowns and surgical scrubs are currently worn by only eight percent and five percent of dental hygiene students respectively. Most clinical instructors wear lab coats over street clothes, instead of traditional uniforms. Many program directors indicated they are considering changes in clinical attire requirements in the future because of concern for infection control. The issues of most concern for possible changes in the near future appear to be (1) switching from uniforms to surgical gowns or scrubs, (2) changing to disposable gowns, and (3) utilizing a laundry service for lab coats or scrubs.