Dental Infection Control Awareness Month: Commitment to safety

September not only marks the beginning of cooler weather and fall fashion but also Dental Infection Control Awareness Month.

Each year the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention dedicates this month to providing the dental community with information and materials to stay current with the latest dental infection control guidelines and to ensure every dental visit is safe. This year OSAP is focusing on hand hygiene, dental unit waterlines, PPE and instrument reprocessing.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted what can happen when underestimating the power of microorganisms or protein entities to facilitate the spread of a virus or disease. Patients and the dental team should both feel protected from risks of disease transmission. This comes from adequate knowledge about current infection control and safety practices.

Equal education opportunities for pregnant and parenting students

The first test I took in dental school was a pregnancy test.

I spent the first two semesters pregnant and gave birth to my daughter during finals week in the spring of 2020. While my classmates took a physiology final, I was in a labor and delivery room.

I planned my maternity leave based on the parental leave policy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. However, not all schools have a parental leave policy. Without a clear policy, soon-to-be parents don’t know how to proceed.

To continue their studies, students will need to adjust how, when or where they complete their academic work during the perinatal and postpartum period.