A New Era in Dental Infection Prevention: Don’t Let 20-Year-Old Practices Dictate Your Standard of Care

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By Amanda Thornton, RN, MSN, CIC, VA-BC, Clinical Science Liaison, PDI

For more than two decades, dental infection prevention has largely relied on guidance developed in the early 2000s. The last comprehensive set of recommendations, released in 2003, predates smartphones, streaming services, and the increasingly complex healthcare landscape we navigate today. While those guidelines served as a foundation, the evolution of pathogens, practices, and dental technology now demands a fresh perspective.

As of April 1, 2025, the CDC Division of Oral Health is stepping back from updating infection control guidance for dentistry. In its place, the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) has launched the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to take the lead, developing guidelines through private and public partnerships. This transition represents a long-overdue opportunity for dental practices to elevate standards, improve patient safety, and adopt strategies aligned with modern clinical realities.

Why Now? Rising Expectations for Infection Prevention in Dentistry

Dental practices are entering an era of heightened oversight, where infection prevention is more important than ever. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) continue to pose a serious challenge across healthcare systems worldwide, driving stronger regulations and stricter compliance expectations. In dental environments, frequent patient interactions, aerosol-generating procedures, and constant contact with high-touch surfaces create significant risks of cross-contamination. From the dental chair to light handles, countertops to trays, and even computer equipment to phones, every surface can harbor pathogens.

Without rigorous and standardized disinfection protocols, pathogens spread quickly, putting both patients and staff at risk.

High-risk procedures and surfaces: Aerosolized particles from high-speed instruments can linger in the air, while surfaces like chairs, trays, and touchscreens accumulate pathogens daily. Without standardized disinfection and hand hygiene compliance, cross-contamination can occur.

Emerging biological threats: Antimicrobial resistance, new pathogens, and airborne risks are driving the need for updated protocols that go well beyond what was envisioned two decades ago.

Getting Ahead: What Dental Professionals Can Do Now to Prepare

While new guidelines are still in development, proactive steps today can position dental teams for success. Preparing your office for higher standards doesn’t have to be overwhelming—focus on key areas that impact daily practice.

Label Literacy: Staff should be trained to read and interpret disinfectant labels. Understanding the claims, intended use, and limitations of each product prevents misuse and helps ensure patient safety.

EPA Registration: Understanding a disinfectant product’s EPA registration is crucial, but registration alone does not guarantee effectiveness in every dental scenario. Review the registration details carefully to ensure it meets the daily infection prevention needs and requirements.

Contact Times: Dwell time—or how long a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface—is critical to its efficacy. Following manufacturer instructions precisely ensures pathogens are effectively eliminated.

Surface Compatibility: Not all disinfectants are appropriate for every piece of dental equipment. Choosing products that protect instruments, upholstery, and other surfaces extends their lifespan and maintains functionality.

Perceived cleanliness and patient confidence: A practice that looks and smells clean reinforces trust. When patients see visible hygiene practices and experience a fresh, well-maintained environment, they feel reassured about their safety, which can directly influence satisfaction, loyalty, and referrals.

Training: Regular team training reinforces proper techniques, from reading labels to following recommended contact times. When staff understand the reasoning behind protocols, compliance improves.

Choosing the Right Disinfectant

One common misconception is that any EPA-registered product is suitable for all dental applications. In reality, registration only confirms that a product kills certain organisms under controlled conditions; it does not account for the real-world demands of a busy dental office.

The ideal disinfectant should meet several criteria:

Broad-Spectrum: Effective against emerging pathogens, including Candida auris, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), tuberculosis, and others
Fast-Acting: Short contact times allow faster room turnover and improve compliance across the team
Equipment-Compatible: Designed to prevent damage or corrosion to sensitive dental tools, electronics and surfaces.
Ease of Use: Ready-to-use formats, such as wipes, make proper disinfection more practical and consistent (for staff)
Supported by Experts: Access to clinical guidance and education ensures the team can implement protocols correctly and confidently

Choosing the right disinfectant not only ensures compliance, but also enhances efficiency, fosters patient trust, and safeguards a dental practice for the future.

Elevating Infection Prevention for the Future of Dental Care

Infection prevention remains one of the most critical responsibilities in dentistry. The challenge is to ensure that protocols are consistently applied in every operatory, by every team member, every day. By adopting proven healthcare benchmarks, leveraging expert support, and equipping teams with the right resources, practices can build a stronger, future-ready foundation for safety.

Consistency Matters: Even the best-written protocols fail if they are applied inconsistently. Variations between staff members, treatment rooms, or shifts introduce gaps that increase the risk of cross-contamination. Patients expect the same high standard of safety for every visit and interaction.

Learning from Healthcare Benchmarks: Hospitals have long developed infection prevention programs to address complex and evolving threats, making them a strong model for dental settings. Evidence-based, hospital-trusted solutions give practices a framework that is proactive, not reactive, ensuring teams are prepared for new pathogens and regulatory changes.

Expert Support: Clinical educators and training programs bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring staff understand both the “how” and the “why” of infection prevention. Regular updates, workshops, and training modules keep practices aligned with evolving guidelines and help staff feel confident in applying best practices. With expert support, compliance becomes second nature, reducing errors and reinforcing a culture of safety.

Simplified Solutions: The right tools and products simplify infection prevention, making consistent compliance easier for busy staff. Ready-to-use, hospital-grade products—such as disinfectant wipes—eliminate guesswork and reduce variability. By standardizing processes, practices can ensure every operatory and surface is disinfected correctly every time. A one-step approach streamlines workflow, saving time while maintaining the highest level of protection.

The future of dental infection prevention depends on raising standards beyond outdated practices and embracing a model built on consistency, healthcare benchmarks, expert support, and modern resources. Practices that commit to these principles will not only protect patients and staff but also position themselves as leaders in delivering safe, trusted, and future-ready oral healthcare.

Take the next step toward future-ready infection prevention.
Explore PDI’s proven disinfectant solutions and educational resources and equip your practice to deliver the highest standard of safety and care.

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