Infection Prevention and Control FAQs

It is the responsibility of all registrants to comply with the College's Practice Standards, Code of Ethics, and Guidelines, including the ACDH IPC Guidelines.

Practice Standards describe the minimum levels of practice required for the protection of the public. It is the responsibility of all regulated members to understand the Practice Standards and apply them to their practice of dental hygiene practice, regardless of practice setting or areas of responsibility.

Guidelines establish the professionally accepted means by which dental hygienists can achieve compliance with Practice Standards by detailing practices based on evidence and current data.

The new IPC Guidelines must be adhered to in order to meet the following Practice Standards:

• 1.1: Dental hygienists adhere to current provincial and federal legislation; and codes of ethics, Practice Standards, guidelines and policies relevant to the profession and practice setting.
• 1.4: Dental hygienists are familiar with all Practice Guidelines adopted by the ACDH and give careful regard to those Guidelines in making clinical decisions. 

Failure to follow Guidelines may constitute a breach of one or more Practice Standards, which is unprofessional conduct.

If the IPC measures outlined in the College’s IPC Guidelines achieve a higher level of safety than an employer's IPC policies and procedures, the dental hygienist has an obligation to meet the higher level of safety.

The new IPC Guidelines were developed as a collaboration between the ACDH, the College of Alberta Dental Assistants, the College of Alberta Denturists, and the College of Dental Technicians of Alberta. It is expected that registrants of these four colleges adhere to these IPC Guidelines in order to meet the Standards of Practice of their own College.

Dentists must meet the expectations set by the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta.