Frequently Asked Questions

Current COVID-19 Interim Guidance

Find the most up-to-date information about infection prevention and control practices on CDC’s COVID-19 page, including CDC’s Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19), which is applicable to all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including dental settings. For more information, see CDC Updates COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance.

This section includes answers to a variety of frequently asked questions on issues of interest to clinical dentistry. For more specific discussion of these topics, you are encouraged to review the Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings—2003 [PDF – 1.2M]—which remains the standard of practice—and other CDC guidelines. Appendix C from the 2016 Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care [PDF-344KB] provides a list of selected references and resources across a range of topics.  As a reminder, CDC does not have regulatory authority that extends to enforcement of infection prevention and control guidelines in dental settings. Dental health care personnel are licensed and regulated by their state according to their state dental practice acts or other relevant regulations. Employers should be aware that other local, territorial, tribal, state, and federal requirements may apply, including those promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Consult your state dental board or other regulating agency for rules applicable to your jurisdiction