Keeping dental patients and providers safe and healthy is a top priority for the entire dental team, especially for dental assistants. In fact, dental assistants are often responsible for infection control duties in the practice, perhaps even serving as the infection control coordinator.
“The most important thing a dental assistant does is ensure that patients receive the best care in a safe and welcoming environment,” says Latoya N., CDA.
Dental professionals’ role in infection control is of critical importance, especially as the nation and world navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on dentistry. Given these new conditions and growing health and safety concerns, now is the time to ensure you have the knowledge to keep you, your fellow dental team members, and patients safe.
Infection control education is critical
Without proper infection prevention and control, dental team members are among the most at-risk professionals given the close contact they have with patients and each other. To help support and protect dental team members and patients, the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) and the DALE Foundation, the official affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), have come together to develop the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate program.
The OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program is intended for everyone on the dental team, plus educators, consultants, dental sales representatives, and state dental board investigators and inspectors.
The program includes three steps and is entirely online, so it can be completed at your convenience.
Steps 1 and 2 can be completed in either order:
- Step 1: Understanding CDC’s Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings
- Step 2: OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control eHandbook
- Step 3: The OSAP-DALE Foundation eHandbook Assessment (available after completing steps 1 and 2)
Sheila L., CDA, recently completed the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program and believes the time is now for dental professionals to hone their infection control expertise. “I have been in dentistry for almost 30 years,” shares Sheila, who works as an in-office trainer, a technology adviser for a large dental supply company, and a chairside assistant. “Changes in dentistry have made us think and act differently when it comes to infection control. Patients trust that we know what we are doing to maintain a safe and healthy environment.”
The future of infection control
In addition to the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program, OSAP and DANB are working together to develop two professional certifications:
- OSAP-DANB Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Contro (CDIP) certification
- OSAP-DANB Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control (DISIP) certification
More information about the OSAP-DANB CDIPC and DISIPC certifications will be available later this year.
Many dental professionals are looking forward to earning these certifications in the future. “I am very interested in the OSAP-DANB DISIPC certification,” says Sheila.
Similarly, Leanne M., CDA, CDPMA, has her sights set on OSAP-DANB CDIPC certification. “I work with dentists around my state as a compliance trainer, so holding this certification would show them that I’m qualified to help them with their needs,” she says. “It would give more credibility to what I’m doing.”
To learn more or get started, visit dentalinfectioncontrol.org.
