Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) work in close proximity to their patients. DHCP perform procedures which may induce their patients to cough. Their field of surgery is awash in saliva, which is usually contaminated with blood. Many dental procedures produce aerosolized droplet nuclei, which may linger in the atmosphere for hours. Obviously, the risk of disease transmission is an inherent part of dental practice. The good news is that dental care can be provided with a high degree of safety for the patient and therapist, provided that the tenets of modern infection control are adhered to. This book gives you the comprehensive and systematic approach towards methods of infection control in dentistry. It has a wide range of easy made tabular columns for quick understanding and comparison along with illustrations where ever necessary.

Infection control, which is one of the most discussed topics in dentistry, has become such an integral part of the practice to the extent that dental health workers no longer question its necessity. Dentists might be occupationally exposed to infectious materials, including body substances and contaminated supplies, equipment, environmental surfaces, water, or air. This book overviews practice protocols to be followed by the dental professionals to prevent cross contamination and also to improve the standards of oral health care.

The purpose of infection control in dental practice is to prevent the transmission of disease-producing agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi from one patient to another patient, from dental practitioner and dental staff to patients, and from patients to dental practitioner or other dental staff. In addition, it is necessary that endogenous spread of infection also be prevented by limiting the spread of infectious agents. Based on the evidence, information, and rules, local to either the country or region, high standards of dental infection control & occupational safety must be followed by the dental team for the safety of the patients and dental healthcare workers. Dental practitioners face many unique situations when treating patients and especially children. Children and adolescents have varying levels of physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development. Dental practitioners are regularly challenged to meet the psychological needs of their young patients while maintaining appropriate infection control practices.