In 2021, we collaborated with the College of Alberta Denturists, College of Dental Technologists of Alberta and the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta to create a unified guidelines document for infection prevention and control (IPC). The result is the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines (IPC Guidelines). As part of our quality assurance program, our Colleges have just completed a review and update of the IPC Guidelines.
Key revisions include:
- adding detailed information about control measures, inspection of instruments and storage and handling
- emphasizing the importance of a point-of-care risk assessment for decision-making
- aligning with CDSA’s Infection Prevention and Control Standards and Risk Management for Dentistry and Alberta Health Standards
- incorporating the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists’ new name and branding and the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta’s new branding
IPC Guidelines Support Safe Care
With a focus on ensuring patients are receiving safe care, we require Dental Assistants to meet or exceed the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta’s (CDSA) Infection Prevention and Control Standards and Risk Management for Dentistry (IPC Standards).
The CDSA developed the IPC Standards so that dentists have standardized infection prevention and control strategies in their dental practices. In many dental practices, Dental Assistants play a key role in infection prevention and control activities.
Since Dental Assistants must follow the IPC Standards, the IPC Guidelines are designed to supplement the Standards.
To help them meet the expectations in our Standards of Practice, 11.2e, the Guidelines offer best practices for Dental Assistants. As they understand and apply the Guidelines to their practice, they place their patients’ well-being first and fulfil their duty to provide safe care.
The Guidelines support dental assisting practice by:
- identifying principles
- giving instructions
- offering information and direction
- providing a framework for decision making
The Guidelines are based on the best evidence and the most current data. As such, the IPC guidelines are dynamic and intended to reflect current best practices. Together, the IPC Standards and IPC Guidelines provide clear direction on establishing and maintaining safe practice environments.