Ep. 643 - Infection Control and Prevention: The Devil is in the Details; A Discussion with Emily Boge

Are you truly protecting your patients and staff from infection transmission, or are gaps in your disinfection protocols putting everyone at risk?

Dr. Emily Boge brings over 20 years of dental hygiene and assisting experience combined with dual doctorates in Education and Organizational Leadership. She champions innovation in product development with five collaborative dental patents, conducts evidence-based research on infection prevention, and serves as a leading educator for dental professionals globally. Dr. Boge advocates for practitioner accountability and empowerment while pushing the boundaries of dental practice standards.

This episode provides essential guidance on infection prevention and control protocols that every dental practice must implement correctly. Dr. Boge breaks down the critical distinctions between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization while addressing real-world challenges facing today's dental teams. The discussion covers practical decision-making around disinfection methods, single-use inventory management, and the evolving role of infection control coordinators in modern practices.

Episode Highlights:

• The EPA N-list provides validated disinfectants specifically designed for healthcare settings where aerosols are produced, requiring intermediate to high-level disinfection rather than household products. Practitioners should select products based on effectiveness wait time that matches their workflow needs, with one-minute kill times ideal for high-volume practices.
• The spray-wipe-spray or wipe-discard-wipe protocol ensures proper cleaning followed by disinfection of all contact surfaces. Wipes provide controlled saturation and reduce aerosolization of disinfectants that staff breathe throughout the day, though both methods can be effective when used with proper technique and adequate contact time.
• Single-use items marked as one-time use must be discarded after initial use, regardless of environmental or cost considerations. Reusing these products violates manufacturer instructions and compromises patient safety, while items designed for sterilization can safely undergo heat sterilization cycles up to their specified limits.
• Cold sterilization using glutaraldehyde presents significant workflow challenges due to inconsistent effectiveness wait times ranging from 24 to 48 hours across different products. The inability to track immersion timing for individual instruments creates reliability concerns, making heat sterilization the preferred standard for consistent results.
• The Certified Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) credential through DANB provides dental team members with marketable expertise in infection control coordination. This 100-question examination costs approximately $300 and demonstrates specialized knowledge that can enhance career opportunities and practice value.

Perfect for: Dental hygienists, dental assistants, practice managers, and dentists seeking to optimize infection control protocols and understand emerging career opportunities in infection prevention coordination.

Discover how proper infection control can become a competitive advantage for your practice while opening new career pathways for your team members.