September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn more about the critical steps oral health professionals take to keep patients safe every day. Infection control is an important part of the work oral health professionals do and has been even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the onset of the pandemic, the infection control procedures in dental offices looked a bit different but keeping patients safe has always been an integral part of the dental team’s role. After dental offices began to reopen following pandemic closures in 2020, patients began seeing more infection control procedures in place when they visited their dental office. Although some of these practices have ended, such as parking lot waiting rooms, dental offices are still working to ensure patient and provider safety at every appointment.
This year, the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is recognizing Dental Infection Control Awareness Month with free resources for patients and providers to better educate everyone about infection control in dental settings.
- Individuals and their families can learn more about infection control from OSAP with a new topic each week through the month of September including hand hygiene, dental unit waterlines, instrument reprocessing, and personal protective equipment.
- Providers can request free resources to keep in their office to educate staff and patients about important infection control procedures.
- Providers can demonstrate their competence in dental infection control and their commitment to dental safety by earning certification.
Everyone on the dental team plays a role in keeping patients and providers safe. Join KOHC as we recognize the importance of infection control procedures in dental settings throughout the month of September.
