Compliance and risk
Standard precautions
Standard precautions are the basic infection control steps that dental staff use with every patient, whether or not the patient seems ill.
The CDC says Standard Precautions are used for all patient care. They are based on a risk assessment and use common sense practices and personal protective equipment. These steps protect health care providers from infection and prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient.
The CDC's dental guidance treats Standard Precautions as the base of infection control in dental settings. They rely on common sense practices and personal protective equipment.
Worker safety rules from OSHA cover similar ground. Offices usually train staff on these steps when they are hired and again each year.