Package Description
Currently, all types of dental treatment are lumped together into one category in ASHRAE's Standard 170 for Health Care facilities. This lecture provides a rationale and evidence for consideration of a risk-based approach to facilities management of dental facilities. In April 2024, a WHO consensus panel agreed on common terminology for airborne transmission of respiratory-acquired infectious diseases. Rather than the dichotomy of "droplets or aerosols" for different size emissions, the term, infectious respiratory particles, or IRPs, is used to describe emissions from infected persons. IRPs may be released from the nose, throat or mouth of infected persons during talking, spitting, singing, coughing, sneezing or laughing. A review of risks of respiratory infections, recommended vaccines for respiratory-acquired infections and respiratory acquired infections reported from dental offices is provided. This includes a report of a Midwestern outbreak of tuberculosis in a dental practice. In addition, additional risks may occur during generation of IRPs from different types of dental treatment, which vary in duration and complexity. Therefore, assessing total risks and risk mitigation of IRPs during dental treatment is essential. Re-categorizing facilities that provide dental treatment by risk ensures that how facilities are used (e.g. what type of dental treatment is provided) are matched to facility needs, including appropriate ventilation and filtration requirements. A benefit of this approach is to harmonize dental treatment facilities consistent with management of other inpatient and outpatient care facilities. Re-categorization of dental treatment by procedures and duration would ensure that a realistic, risk-based approach is used to prevent transmission of respiratory infections during dental treatment. Selective conditions for monitoring of dental offices, with air and surface testing, along with appropriate testing of waterlines, is provided in this review. Future considerations for risk mitigation and safety during dental treatment should include facilities management, assessment of indoor air quality, installation of proper engineering controls consistent with ASHRAE 241 testing, and other risk mitigation methods. A risk-based approach to different kinds of dental treatment can help minimize any risks of transmission of respiratory infections to providers and patients in the dental treatment environment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Assess key risks for acquisition of respiratory infections during dental treatment
- Propose a re-categorization of dental treatment facilities based on use or type of treatment types of dental treatment, similar to hospitals
- Propose different categories for dental treatment facilities, based on use, harmonizing with current ASHRAE Standard 170 for health care facilities.
Price:
- Members: $15
- Non-members: $30
Continuing Education
ADS is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
Please email the ADS office at [email protected] or call +1 (410) 571-0003 if you wish to be in contact with the course author/creator(s) with any questions or for clarification of course concepts or for technical assistance in completing the online test.
All participants assume individual responsibility for providing evidence of contact hours of continuing education to the appropriate authorities and for the maintenance of their individual records.
Learn more about ADS’s CE Program & Provider Recognition.
CE Credits: 1.0
Educational Method: Lecture, Recorded, Self-instructional (self-study)
Location: Online
Publication Date: June 2025
Expiration Date: June 30, 2028
Speaker:
Margaret Scarlett, DMD
A strategic leader and thought leader, Dr. Scarlett is the first author of the original Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for infection control for dentistry, April 1986.. From her first assignment as a US Public Health Service officer, Dr. Scarlett focused on providing oral care to a unique Gullah population in the Sea Islands below Charleston for five years. Then, she had various assignments at CDC, including as an epidemiologist in reproductive health and a senior scientist in HIV/AIDS, STD and TB at CDC, with her last assignment as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health for the Department of Health and Human Services. Since 2001, Dr. Scarlett started a small business devoted to improving overall health, and oral health outcomes to international and national organizations and consumer health companies. A renowned expert in infectious and chronic diseases, as well as infection control, she has been recognized by the CDC's Hospital Infections Program for her work on hospital and health care worker guidance. As a CDC contractor, Dr. Scarlett has engaged in a variety of activities to support CDC's mission, including developing an avian flu preparedness plan for the Emergency Operations Center at CDC, and training health workers on infection control, including the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015. In addition to several MMWRs for CDC on infection control, Dr. Scarlett has authored numerous publications, including a chapter on Oral Health Promotion in 2015 for a book, Introduction to Global Health Promotion, ed. by R. Zimmerman, et al. A sought after speaker, she is also an expert on digital technology and artificial intelligence, lecturing at various conferences, including the 2024 American Dental Association annual meeting.
Disclosure: No relevant financial relationships to disclose
Refund & Cancellation
This course is non-refundable. Click here to view the complete Product Agreement.
For Distributors
Distributors may purchase multiple copies of packages to distribute to learners, and follow their progress. Bulk discounts are below.
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