Cross - infection control in dentistry: a review

The dental environment is associated with significant amount of risk for exposure to various micro-organisms. Infection control is one of the prime elements of a successful dental practice. There are many infectious diseases that can be transmitted in a dental environment. New diseases with serious consequences and a high rate of transmission have evolved in the recent past. Infection control is directed at prevention to exposure of such infections and also to prevent it being transferred from person to person. The universal infection control policy considers that 'Every patient should be considered Infectious'. This review article presents various aspects of cross-infection control in dental environment