Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent cross-contamination in dentistry. Contaminated hands can move pathogens between patients and providers. Consistent, correct technique—at the right moments—cuts infection risk significantly. The goal: reduce transmission with clear rules, effective products, and reliable habits.

Handwashing vs. Hand Sanitizing: What’s the Difference?

• Handwashing (soap and water): Cleans hands by removing debris, bioburden, and microorganisms.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer: Doesn’t clean, but is generally more effective at killing or deactivating many pathogens than washing.
• Use sanitizer only on hands that aren’t visibly soiled.
• Important limitations: Alcohol sanitizers are not effective against spore-forming bacteria (e.g., Clostridium difficile, Cryptosporidium) and some nonenveloped viruses (e.g., Norovirus, Polio virus, some Coxsackieviruses, Rhinoviruses, Adenoviruses).
• Bottom line: Dental teams should use a combined protocol—wash when visibly soiled or after exposure to contaminants; sanitize for routine hand hygiene between tasks when hands look clean.

Technique is everything.

For washing, wet, soap per label, and rub all surfaces—thumbs, fingertips, between fingers—for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry with a disposable towel; use the towel to turn off the tap and skip hot water to protect skin. For sanitizing, apply enough product to keep skin wet for over 15 seconds and rub all surfaces until dry—about 20 seconds.

Choose products that protect both skin and gloves.

Use healthcare-grade, FDA-cleared soaps, sanitizers, and lotions with emollients, but avoid petroleum, mineral oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and lanolin, which degrade glove materials. Don’t “top off” soap dispensers—switch to sealed cartridges to prevent contamination.

Training and leadership make habits stick.

Name an Infection Control Coordinator to own protocols and education. Deliver training in the right language using SOPs, demos, and Q&A, and make sure leaders model perfect technique—culture follows example.

Operationalize it.

Post clear “wash vs. sanitize” rules at every sink and dispenser. Run quick timing drills so the team feels what 20 seconds actually is, spot-check thumbs and fingertips during observations, verify products are glove-compatible, and review simple compliance logs in monthly huddles.

Bottom line: wash to clean; sanitize to kill fast—use both. Full coverage plus 20 seconds beats good intentions. With the right products, training, and leadership, compliance becomes the norm, not the exception.

Help maintain a culture of safety in your practice and strengthen your team’s knowledge. Complete the June 2026 ICIP online course to earn 1 CE credit – free for ADS Members, or available for just $20 for non-members.

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Stay tuned for the next ICIP issue – coming in August 2026!