1 The threat of infectious disease through occupational exposure remains a primary concern for all health care workers, including those in dentistry. Health care personnel are more aware than ever of the risk for transmission of such infectious agents as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza, the common cold, and other viruses and bacteria that colonize or infect the upper respiratory tract. Health care personnel are concerned about protecting their patients’ health, as well as their own. Although dental health care personnel have made great strides in adjusting to the required changes in infection control practices, some continue to have concerns about the integration of new infection control procedures into their daily routines. Current scientific knowledge indicates that, if dental personnel diligently follow appropriate infection control procedures, the already low risk of bloodborne disease transmission can be reduced even further. In 2016, the CDC issued a document called “CDC Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care.” This document brings together recommendations from the 2003 “CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Setting” with tools and checklists to help the dental team follow infection prevention guidelines. The new recommendations recognize the necessity of having one person in every dental practice assigned as the infection control coordinator. The recommendations also stress the importance of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, especially in reference to common illnesses like influenza and the common cold. These recommendations apply not only to patients, but to the entire dental team, with the goal of preventing the spread of disease through heightened awareness and a specific course of action when someone appears to be infected. We hope you find this to be a useful resource for training the dental team on the importance of infection control. Introduction THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL