2026 Catalog: All Courses

This is based upon the tip of the week e-mail sent out by DOH the week of June 30th, 2026. To gain CDE credit, participants must successfully pass a test [score 80] based upon the reading material.

Reading Materials:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-b-epas-registered-tuberculocide-products-effective-against-mycobacterium_.html

The CDC States: Dental prostheses, impressions, orthodontic appliances, and other prosthodontic materials [e.g., occlusal rims, temporary prostheses, bite registrations, or extracted teeth] should be thoroughly cleaned [i.e., blood and bioburden removed], disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with a tuberculocidal claim, and thoroughly rinsed before being handled in the in-office laboratory or sent to an off-site laboratory.

ASK ADS:
Understanding the Risks
•   Any instrument or equipment used in the oral cavity or on orally soiled prosthetic devices or impressions is a potential source of cross-infection.
•   It is impossible to identify all infectious patients from medical histories or conversations, so always assume all patients could transmit infectious diseases.
•   If contaminated items enter the laboratory environment, infectious materials could be spread to prostheses and appliances of other patients, and laboratory personnel could be exposed.
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Key Areas of Risk
1.   Receiving and Handling Items
•   Items coming from the oral cavity [impressions, prostheses, appliances] may carry bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
•   Bringing untreated materials into the laboratory increases the risk of cross-contamination.
2.   Laboratory Equipment and Surfaces
•   Laboratory items [e.g., burs, polishing points, rag wheels, lathes] can become contaminated if used on soiled appliances.
•   Environmental surfaces and equipment [e.g., case pans, articulators, pressure pots, water baths] are susceptible to contamination.
3.   Aerosol and Spatter Generation
•   Procedures like grinding, polishing, and blasting can generate aerosols and spatter, spreading microorganisms.
4.   Improper Communication
•   Lack of coordination between the dental office and laboratory about disinfection procedures can result in duplication or omission of critical steps, increasing risk.
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Best Practices to Minimize Cross-Contamination
•   Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment [PPE]—gloves, masks, gowns, and protective eyewear—when handling contaminated items until they are disinfected.
•   Establish a designated receiving area with handwashing facilities and impervious, easily cleaned surfaces for items sent to the lab.
•   Disinfect all items from the oral cavity before laboratory handling using an EPA-registered disinfectant with at least intermediate-level activity [tuberculocidal claim].
•   Heat-sterilize heat-tolerant items [e.g., metal impression trays, face-bow forks] before reuse.
•   Clean and disinfect laboratory equipment and environmental surfaces between cases and at least twice daily.
•   Use single-use disposable items when possible, and never reuse materials like pumice or polishing agents between patients.
•   Provide written documentation of disinfection methods when sending or receiving cases between the dental office and laboratory.
•   If contamination is discovered during manipulation, repeat cleaning and disinfection procedures.
•   Dispose of sharps and contaminated waste properly in puncture-resistant and appropriate containers.

Upon reviewing the NIPCS Tip of the week, you will:
1. Understand the importance of monitoring your lab for IPC risks.
2. Know what equipment needs to be sterilized in a dental clinic.
3. Understand key areas of risk in a dental lab

Damon Pope — Deputy Project Manager for the IHS Electronic Dental Record IHS DOH National Infection Control Consultant For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at damon.pope@ihs.gov.

The speaker has no conflicts of interest to report.

It is the policy of the Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, that faculty/planners disclose any financial or other relationships with commercial companies whose products may be discussed in the educational activity. The Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, also requires that faculty disclose any unlabeled or investigative use of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Images that have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes are prohibited.

None of the faculty/planners for this activity has a conflict of interest, and there is no use of unlabeled or investigative pharmaceutical products or medical devices. No images have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes.The educational objectives, content, and selection of educational methods and instructors are conducted independent of any commercial entity.

The IHS Division of Oral Health is an accredited sponsor of continuing education under the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP). ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the IHS at IHS CDE Coordinator or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ada.org

Please Make Checks Payable to: Indian Health Service.

Tuition must be paid in full 8 weeks prior to the start date of any course. Request for refunds must be received in writing at least two weeks before the course begins. For each refund request, there will be an administrative charge of $100. No refunds will be made to registrants who fail to attend a course. If IHS CDE program cancels a course, then 100% of the tuition will be refunded.