Infection control for the dental hygienist of the nineties. Part 1: Personal protection and operatory disinfection.

Ensuring the safest possible working environment must be standard operating procedure in the professional oral care setting. Knowledge of and adherence to the latest infection control techniques is critical toward achieving that end. In this issue, the importance of personal protection for the health and well-being of the dental hygienists and the patients they serve has been stressed. Additional importance has been given to the sterilization and disinfection of dental equipment, surfaces, and instruments within the operatory. In the second installment of this 2-part series, we will look at current recommended sterilization techniques for instruments and other re-usable items employed in the mouth. We will also explore helpful ways to establish and maintain equipment and operatory asepsis.