Demonstrate your commitment to patient safety
Infection control lapses in dental settings can have a life-threatening impact, yet national surveys of dental settings reveal a critical lack of standardized education and training protocols for all aspects of infection control.
The OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control eHandbook™ is designed to help users fill gaps in their infection control knowledge and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, guidelines and standards.
Intended for any oral healthcare professional who is responsible for infection control procedures in a dental setting, this comprehensive, interactive resource allows users to apply their knowledge and experience in a highly relevant, goal-oriented format. Photos, case studies and other methodologies reinforce learning and application of a dental infection control curriculum into each individual’s practice setting, educational venue or in consultative selling.
In addition, the eHandbook includes a 49-page downloadable companion workbook for guided note taking. Long after the user has completed the eHandbook, this companion workbook and its links to key resources will serve as a valuable reference.
See the instructions on how to navigate and complete the eHandbook.
The eHandbook is a required step to earning the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate. The other required step is completing the OSAP-DALE Foundation Understanding CDC’s Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings.
Course credentials
Subject Matter Experts:
- Eve Cuny, M.S.
Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Associate Professor, and Assistant Dean
University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
Disclosure: No relevant financial relationships to disclose
- Kathy Eklund, RDH, M.H.P.
Director of Occupational Health and Safety
The Forsyth Institute
Disclosure: Other Financial or Material Support - Royalties OSHA & CDC Guidelines: OSAP Interact Training System
- Mary Govoni, CDA, RDH, MBA
Speaker, Author and Consultant
Mary Govoni & Associates
Disclosure: No relevant financial relationships to disclose
- Virginia Jorgensen, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, A.A.S.
Dental Assisting Instructor/Consultant
Portland Community College and Smith & Jorgensen Dental Consulting
Disclosure: No relevant financial relationships to disclose
- Chris Miller, M.S, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Microbiology, Executive Associate Dean Emeritus and Associate Dean Emeritus for Academic Affairs and for Graduate Education
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Disclosure: No relevant financial relationships to disclose
Staff Reviewers:
- Cynthia Durley, M.Ed., MBA
- Therese Long, MBA, CAE
Creation date: May 2019
Updated: N/A
Date of next review: May 2022
Educational method: Electronically Mediated Activity (e.g., photos, case studies, guided note taking)
This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts between the DALE Foundation and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP).
The eHandbook includes three units and nine chapters covering the following learning objectives:
UNIT 1: Infection Control and Infectious Diseases in Dental Healthcare Settings
Chapter 1: Key Concepts in Infection Control
- Discuss the relationship between healthcare delivery and the potential for disease transmission
- Identify 4 basic principles of infection control
- Describe recommendations and regulations applicable to dental healthcare settings
Chapter 2: Transmission and Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Dental Healthcare Settings
- Identify the process of disease transmission
- Describe factors associated with the likelihood of infection
- Describe the chain of infection
- Identify precautions used to reduce the risk for exposure to infection
- Discuss the dental healthcare setting infection control plan
- Describe antibiotic resistance
- Define antibiotic stewardship and identify national measures to prevent antibiotic resistance
Chapter 3: Infectious Diseases of Concern in Dental Healthcare Settings
- Identify and describe diseases associated with bloodborne pathogens
- Describe the components of an exposure control plan for occupational exposures
- Identify and describe diseases associated with airborne pathogens
- Identify and describe diseases associated with droplet pathogens
- Identify and describe diseases associated with contact pathogens
- Identify and describe waterborne pathogens of concern associated with dental unit waterlines
- Identify and describe other pathogens of concern in dental healthcare settings
UNIT 2: Elements of Infection Control in Everyday Practice
Chapter 4: Infection Control Practices in Dental Healthcare Settings
- Identify when to perform hand hygiene
- Identify factors that should be considered when choosing hand hygiene products
- Discuss appropriate hand hygiene technique
- Describe the importance of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
- Identify CDC recommendations for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
- Identify the types of PPE used in dental healthcare settings
- Describe the process of donning and removing PPE
- Discuss types of dermatitis and allergic reactions in dental healthcare settings
- List ways to keep hands healthy
- Describe the importance of a safety culture in dental healthcare settings
- Identify appropriate techniques of preventing sharps injuries
- Identify the purpose of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act
- Discuss recommendations for safe injection practices
Chapter 5: Sterilization and Disinfection of Patient-Care Items
- Identify how patient-care items are categorized based on their risk of transmitting a disease
- Describe the steps used in instrument processing
- Identify why dental handpieces require special consideration for reprocessing
- Discuss how single-use devices are used in dental healthcare settings
Chapter 6: Environmental Infection Control
- Describe infection control procedures for clinical and housekeeping surfaces
- Discuss the steps of contamination management
- Identify requirements for chemical safety records
- Identify types of medical waste generated in dental healthcare settings
- Describe how regulated medical waste is managed
- Discuss how blood and body fluids are disposed
- Describe how records are kept for dental waste
Chapter 7: Dental Waterlines, Biofilm, and Water Quality
- Discuss the role of biofilm in dental waterlines
- Identify infection control strategies for using water in dental healthcare settings
- Describe processes for maintaining and monitoring dental water quality
Chapter 8: Special Considerations
- Describe infection control practices for saliva ejectors, dental radiology, preprocedural mouthrinses, and the dental laboratory
UNIT 3: Infection Control Policies and Procedures at the Facility Level
Chapter 9: Elements of an Infection Control Program
- Describe elements needed to implement an infection control program
- Identify the importance of and methods for evaluating an infection control program
- Describe different types of written reports in dental healthcare settings
See what others are saying
"Excellent course!! Up-to-date materials, reinforcement questions. Love it, can't wait until the assessment is ready." - Letitia
"I recently finished the course. I have so many good things to say about this that I do not know where to start. The course is set up in small units which I love because it is easy to complete short assignments when you have only a small window of time to work on it. It is super easy to navigate through tabs and drop downs. This course was the single most comprehensive course in infection control I have ever seen. I teach infection control to my students who pass DANB ICE every year. I usually have to use many sources to equal the information that is contained in this course. It was a fabulous review and should be used by all dental professionals. This was truly an excellent course and the creators should be applauded!" - Tracie Wright
"I only wish the OSAP-DALE Foundation eHandbook had come out sooner! Whether you’re a consultant, educator, in the corporate setting or the dental practice, this is a program you need to be part of! The interactive eHandbook’s clear learning objectives are supported by graphics and tables that break down information, making it easy to remember. Linked references point you to key regulations without a time-consuming search, and a unit summary reinforces the lessons you’ve learned. My completed companion workbook will be a frequent resource and the included 10 CEU credits mean I’ve met my license requirements for the year." - Joyce
"Thanks For Putting Health And Education First! I have completed the course: "Dental Infections Prevention and Control e-handbook". It has a very comprehensive content and it has been updated with the latest topics relevant to the Dental Office Environment. It shows step by step the procedures to be implemented as a program to prevent and control the transmission of diseases in work setting in a practical and effective way. The education of staff is key to follow the recommendations, meet the requirements and to be compliant with the law. I am sure that many dental healthcare workers will benefit from it." - Zoida Peno
"Sitting at a computer reading can be boring; however, this interactive infection control eHandbook is anything but that. This course contains a lot of information, but the companion workbook provides you with activities while taking the course to capture your interest and information to refer to afterwards for years to come. It was easy to navigate and I like how it was divided into sections. If this course was rated out of five stars, I would give it at least five!" - Katy Warren
"Everyone wants a safe dental visit, but how do we achieve it? OSAP-DALE Foundation’s educational program provides a foundation of knowledge, in a changing world. Offices vary, locations are different, but standards of safety should be uniform. OSAP and the DALE Foundation have filled an important need!" - Mary Fadhl
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