Safety and Health Topics: Dentistry - Control and Prevention

	Dentistry
	Control and Prevention

The following references aid in controlling and preventing workplace hazards associated with dentistry.

Anesthetic Gases (Nitrous Oxide)

Control of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-107, Hazard Control HC3, (1996). Presents NIOSH research that shows controls including system maintenance, ventilation, and operations. Includes step-by-step approach to controlling N₂O exposure.
Controlling Exposures to Nitrous Oxide During Anesthetic Administration. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-100, (1996, August 5). Presents control measures for preventing or greatly reducing exposure to N₂O during the administration of anesthetic gas.

Beryllium Controls

Preventing Adverse Health Effects From Exposure To Beryllium In Dental Laboratories. OSHA Health Information Bulletin (HIB), (revised 2002, May 14). Provides guidance on engineering controls, work practices, hygiene, clothing, housekeeping procedures and personal protective equipment, as well as training and health surveillance methods for beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention

Reducing Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure in Dentistry: An Update. Cal/OSHA Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Provides information about engineering controls and exposure control plan requirements for dental offices.
Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up Requirements Under OSHA's Standard for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. American Dental Association (ADA). Provides guidance to dental employers about their responsibilities under the OSHA standard for providing post-exposure evaluation and follow-up for employees exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
Policy Statement on Bloodborne Pathogens, Infection Control and the Practice of Dentistry. American Dental Association (ADA), (2005, March 15). Addresses bloodborne pathogens, infection control and the practice of dentistry, and is reviewed and modified on a regular basis as scientific knowledge of bloodborne pathogen transmission and prevention in heath care settings evolves.

Infection Control

Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings - 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2003, December 19;52(RR17):1-61. Consolidates previous recommendations and adds new ones for infection control in dental settings.
Recommended Infection-Control Practices for Dentistry, 1993. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 1993, May 28;42(RR-8). Also available as a 148 KB PDF, 20 pages. Offers guidance to reduce the risk of disease transmission among dental health care workers and their patients. This previous recommendation was consolidated into the 2003 guidelines.
Oral Health Resources - Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings - 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Provides the CDC's Oral Health Resources site for infection control in dentistry. This 108 slide set with accompanying speaker notes is available for download or viewing online and can be used for education and training of dental staff (initial and periodic training).
- Guidelines and Recommendations. (2006, June 24). Contains a review of the scientific evidence regarding dental infection control issues as well as consensus, evidence-based recommendations.
- Frequently Asked Questions. (2006, July 15). Provides answers to common questions about infection control in dental settings.
- Device Screening and Evaluation Forms. (2007, April 26). Provides a collection of forms made available for general use to help increase the safety of both dental personnel and their patients. Forms are available in PDF and HTML formats.
Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2001, June 29;50(RR11):1-42. Includes the latest CDC recommendations.
Immunization of Health-Care Workers: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 1997, December 26;46(RR-18):1-42. Summarizes recommendations of the ACIP concerning the use of certain immunizing agents in HCWs, and assists workers and administrators in optimizing infection prevention and control programs.
Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2005, September 30;54(RR09):1-17. Modifies and expands the list of antiretroviral medications that can be considered for use as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). This report also emphasizes prompt management of occupational exposures, selection of tolerable regimens, attention to potential drug interactions involving drugs that could be included in HIV PEP regimens and other medications, consultation with experts for postexposure management strategies (especially determining whether an exposure has actually occurred) and selection of HIV PEP regimens, use of HIV rapid testing, and counseling and follow-up of exposed personnel.
Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2006, February 24;55(RR02):1-16. Recommends vaccination as an important component of influenza prevention programs in the United States. Vaccination reduces transmission of influenza in health-care settings, staff illness and absenteeism, and influenza-related morbidity and mortality among persons at increased risk for severe influenza illness.
Notice to Readers: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Control and Elimination of Mumps. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2006, June 9;55(22):629-30. Recommends all persons who work in health-care facilities should be immune to mumps. Adequate mumps vaccination for health-care workers born during or after 1957 consists of 2 doses of a live mumps virus vaccine.
ADA Statement on Infection Control in Dentistry. American Dental Association (ADA), (2004, March).

General

Compliance Assistance. OSHA. Provides links to compliance assistance resources.
For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA/NIOSH/DOE's Health Guidelines Pages on:
- Nitrous Oxide
For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:

Recordkeeping

Recordkeeping: It's new, it's improved, and it's easier... OSHA Publication No. 3169, (2001). Summarizes the Recordkeeping rule, and provides access to Form 300, 301, and 301A. Identifies SIC code 802, Offices and Clinics of Dentists, as an establishments classified as partially exempt from most of the recordkeeping requirements, regardless of size.
29 CFR 1904.39. OSHA Standard. Provides phone numbers to report fatalities or imminent life-threatening situation, as well as to report accidents, unsafe conditions or other safety and health violations.

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Content Reviewed 03/29/2007

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