Infection Control, Sterilization, and Safety Standards
This domain tests infection-control duties as licensure obligations, not merely employer preferences. Board rules adopt standards consistent with CDC recommendations and OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
Core controls
Every office needs a written exposure control plan, annual OSHA training, hepatitis B vaccination offered at no cost, PPE, hand hygiene, and safe sharps handling. Critical instruments must be cleaned, packaged, and sterilized by heat; chemical 'cold' sterilization is not a substitute for critical items. Use biological spore testing for each sterilizer at the required interval, log results, and maintain records. Disinfect environmental surfaces, manage waterlines, and store sterile packs properly.
Worked example
A spore test is positive. The correct response is to remove the sterilizer from service, determine the cause, reprocess affected instruments, notify the dentist and affected patients as indicated, retest until negative, and document. Simply repeating the cycle without action is a violation.
Traps
Do not wear the same gloves for multiple patients or skip hand hygiene between glove changes. Do not use an autoclave without monitoring. Do not assume a Board infection-control breach requires patient harm; the rule violation itself can support discipline.