Infection control in fixed prosthodontics.

The breadth and depth of our knowledge of infection control continues to increase in dramatic proportions. The literature is already massive and there is nothing to suggest an abatement of this situation. In truth, we can expect the very opposite; an escalation in attention at every level of concern, from the effectiveness of the chemical agents as actually used in the dental environment, to our methods of delivery, as well as the effects on the materials, equipment, and even the personnel in the dental setting. This trend undoubtedly will continue as our understanding of disease processes and the mechanisms of disease transmission increases. This will, in part, directly impact the scope and direction of future study of infection control practices in dentistry.