Dental Board Updates Infection Control Regulations

Dentists should be aware that the Dental Board of California has amended the Infection Control Regulations.

Regulations such as, but not limited to, the requirement to clean items and surfaces before disinfecting or sterilizing them went into effect on Aug. 20. In addition, the definition of several terms has been broadened and definitions of new terms, "germicide," "cleaning," and "dental health care personnel" have been added. The definition of dental health care professional now includes non-paid personnel, contractual personnel and other persons not directly involved in patient care, but potentially exposed to infectious agents.

The Dental Board has amended the regulations to conform to 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on sterilization and disinfection and with California Division of Occupational Safety and Health regulations. (The last time the regulations were amended was in 2005.)
Some of the amendments include:

• requirement to update periodically the written protocol for proper instrument processing, operatory cleanliness and management of injuries;
• requirement to wear personal protective equipment for disinfection, sterilization, and housekeeping procedures involving the use of germicides or handling contaminated items;
• eliminating the condition, "if contaminated" from the requirement to change and dispose of masks and to clean and disinfect face shield and protective eyewear after each patient treatment;
• requirement to wear heavy-duty utility gloves when processing contaminated instruments, needles and devices;
• requirement that all germicides be used in accordance with intended use and label;
• requirement for heat-sensitive items to be packaged or wrapped upon completion of the disinfection process; and
• requirement to label packages of sterilized items with date of sterilization and sterilizer used if more than one sterilizer is utilized in the practice.

Because of the changes, dentists are required to post the new regulations in their practices. The regulations are downloadable on the CDA Compass. The Dental Board's website also has documents with its rationale for amending the regulations at www.dbc.ca.gov/lawsregs/index.shtml.