Core Practices for Infection Prevention and Control in Oral Healthcare

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is an essential part of every encounter with patients in a healthcare setting, including oral healthcare. To ensure best practices are being followed, dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) should be familiar with several guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices. The core practices represent the foundation upon which all other IPC protocols are built. This article is intended to increase DHCP awareness of these core practices and other guidelines so they can more effectively critically evaluate their facilities to manage IPC beyond standard precautions and ensure a safe environment in which to work and provide patient care.