Emerging Diseases, Infection Control And California Dental Practice Act

New diseases, as well as the return of some once thought eradicated diseases, are a major concern in the modern dental practice. It seems as if every few months a new disease is developing. The signs and symptoms of many emerging diseases such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (Mad Cow Disease), H1N1/Swine Flu, Avian flu and the West Nile Virus will be described and effective preventive measures will be discussed. The course will also cover topics such as general disease transmission, universal and standard precautions, disinfection and sterilization as well as proper waste management.

The course will review Cal-OSHA’s top 20 dental office violations, discuss the CDC guidelines as well as the updated mandated minimum standards for infection control in the dental setting from the Dental Board of California regulations. Participants will be provided with an easy-to-apply checklist for reviewing their office’s compliance with infection control and safety policies and guidelines.

The section on the California Dental Practice Act will present the recent changes in this law that will impact the way you practice dentistry. It will cover the topics required for renewal of your license, including the scope of your practice, recent important changes in the utilization of auxiliaries, and laws governing the prescribing of drugs. Your duties regarding domestic violence and acts in violation of the Dental Practice Act will also be discussed, as well as the penalties that the Dental Board has the power to impose.