By

Caroline Pankhurst BSc BDS MSc Ph.D MRCPath, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Dental Institute of King’s College, London, Specialist in Oral Microbiology.
Wil Coulter BSc, BDS, PGCert Ed, MSc, PhD, FRCPath, Consultant/Reader in Oral Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry Queens University Belfast, Belfast Hospital Trust

The Basic Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Dentistry is a practical guide for all members of the dental team. It offers clear explanations of the key issues and concepts, an orientation of the evidence base and legal framework as well as providing a step-by-step guide to the safe running of a dental practice.

Chapters cover key topics, namely: communicable diseases; occupational health and immunisation; decontamination of dental equipment; surgery disinfect ion; sharp safe working; hand hygiene and barrier personal protection; dental unit waterlines, clinical waste management and pathology specimen handling.

The authors are dentally qualified medical microbiologists and members of the Royal College of Pathologists with extensive experience in the field of infection control in dentistry. They have published a number of scientific studies in the field, the findings of which have been presented at numerous conferences. Drs Pankhurst and Coulter serve on government advisory bodies on infection control and decontamination, and teach dentists, nurses, therapists and hygienists at both pre- and post qualification level.