---
title: "What Is Standard precautions? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "Standard precautions are the basic infection control steps that dental staff use with every patient, whether or not the patient seems ill."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/standard-precautions
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

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](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/infection-control) in dental settings. They rely on common sense practices and personal protective equipment.

Worker safety rules from [OSHA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/osha) cover similar ground. Offices usually train staff on these steps when they are hired and again each year.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Infection control](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/infection-control)
-   [OSHA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/osha)
-   [Bloodborne pathogens standard](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/bloodborne-pathogens-standard)
-   [Compliance checklist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/compliance-checklist)

## Sources

1.  [CDC: Standard Precautions for All Patient Care](https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/basics/standard-precautions.html)
2.  [CDC: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings](https://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/summary/index.html)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)