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Public Health Dentistry

Background | Other Safety Resources

Background

Infection Prevention and Safety

State oral health programs have a shared responsibility for the safe delivery of oral health care. The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) has partnered with the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) to link states to technical assistance, educational materials, information on policy development, and other resources on infection prevention and safety.

Examples of some of the tools include:

• OSAP/CareQuest Institute Best Practices For Infection Control In Dental Clinics During The COVID-19 Pandemic
• Guide: Infection Prevention & Control Guide for School Sealant Programs During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• PowerPoint Slides and Presenter Script: Infection Prevention & Control Guide for School Sealant Programs During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• On-Demand Webinar: Infection Prevention & Control Guidance and Considerations for School Sealant Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic (1 CE credit)
• Interactive Article: Infection Prevention & Control in School Sealant Programs During COVID-19 Learning Tool (1 CE credit)
• ADS Infection Control Considerations for Dental Services in Sites Using Portable Equipment or Mobile Vans - Site Analysis
• ADS'sInfection Control Checklist for Dental Programs Using Mobile Vans or Portable Dental Equipment

Other Safety Resources

Other safety issues include ergonomics, eye protection, use of visible light cure units, noise control, handling of dental mercury, ventilation, nitrous oxide, radiation from dental x-rays, etc.

American Dental Association
ADA resources on infection control

Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors
The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) is a national non-profit organization representing the directors and staff of state/territorial public health agency programs for oral health. It was organized in 1948 and is one of 20 affiliates of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). ASTDD formulates and promotes the establishment of national dental public health policy, assists state/territorial dental programs in the development and implementation of programs and policies for the prevention of oral diseases; builds awareness, and strengthens dental public health professionals' knowledge and skills by developing position papers and policy statements; provides information on oral health to health officials and policymakers, and conducts conferences for the dental public health community.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC/NIOSH has a healthcare worker health and safety webpage

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Includes numerous resources and a searchable database

American Association of Public Health Dentistry
Founded in 1937, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) provides a focus for meeting the challenge to improve oral health. 

ADS Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit
A collection of emergency preparedness resources and information

Safety and Health Topics for Dentistry from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA standards and directives related to dentistry

Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual, Chapter 4, Section VIII
Numerous resources that apply to dental and other healthcare settings

Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective
This health literacy resource from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is an 11-part Toolkit that provides a detailed and comprehensive set of guidelines to help you make written material in printed formats easier for people to read, understand, and use.

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