How to get your dental practice compliant: The 4 components of compliance

Why Infection Control Matters More Than Ever

Infection control breaches in dental practices can have serious consequences. Despite increased awareness, many practices still fall short, with average compliance rates hovering around 77%. As dental practitioners, the responsibility for infection control ultimately rests with you. While tasks can be delegated, accountability cannot.

Both the Dental Board of Australia and the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) require full compliance with their respective guidelines. This includes adhering to mandatory infection prevention measures to protect patients, staff, and the wider community.

The Essential Compliance Checklist

This guide provides an overview of the critical components of infection control compliance, though each area involves detailed requirements that must be adapted to your specific practice.

1) Documentation

Every practice must maintain accessible, up-to-date infection control documentation. This can be in digital or print form but must be available to all team members. In Australia, this includes the ADA Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control (Fifth Edition, updated 2024), the NHMRC Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019 Edition), and AS 5369:2023 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities. In New Zealand, compliance requires adherence to the DCNZ Infection Prevention & Control Practice Standard (2024 Edition) along with the same AS 5369:2023 standards.

Each practice mut also have documented policies and procedures specific to their practice ways of working. The practice policy and procedure manual should adhere to the relevant above standard and guidelines.

It is not enough to simply have these documents. They must be regularly reviewed, at least annually or when guidelines change. Staff must also confirm their understanding through a documented Staff Acknowledgment Register. The manual should be an active tool used for onboarding, training, and day-to-day reference.

2) Validation of Sterilisation

Sterilisation is an ongoing process rather than a single event. To comply with current standards, each steriliser must undergo annual validation or be revalidated after any servicing. This includes conducting tests such as Empty Chamber Studies and Heat Distribution Pattern Tests to ensure consistent and effective sterilisation.

Every stage of the sterilisation cycle - pre-cleaning, packaging, sterilisation, and storage -must be carried out following a validated and documented process. Practices are expected to implement a full Quality Assurance program that incorporates daily monitoring tools like Process Challenge Devices and thorough record-keeping of every cycle.

3) Infection Control Management Plan (IPMP)

Each practice is required to have an Infection Prevention Management Plan (IPMP) that identifies infection risks specific to dental treatments and details the measures in place to minimise those risks. The plan must also outline how the practice monitors and reviews infection control effectiveness, how it provides team training, and how often the plan is reviewed (at least annually). Importantly, the IPMP must designate an Infection Control Coordinator responsible for its implementation and review.

The 2025 updates recommend documenting any infection-related incidents, near misses, and the corrective actions taken. Many practices also continue to include COVID-19 response protocols for added resilience.

4) Quality Assurance Program

A robust Quality Assurance Program ensures that infection control measures are consistently applied and maintained. Practices should appoint and train an Infection Control Coordinator who oversees regular internal audits aligned with the written policy manual. External audits or the use of online self-assessment tools are also encouraged to verify compliance.

The ADA and Dental Board of Australia have introduced and self-assessment tools to help practices conduct self-audits for IPC. All audit reports, whether internal or external, should be securely documented for regulatory purposes and ongoing review.

Training: A Continuous Commitment

Mandatory infection control training must be provided at least annually to all clinical staff in both Australia and New Zealand. Training should cover the latest infection control standards, hand hygiene, PPE protocols, environmental cleaning, and emerging infectious disease management. The emphasis should be on developing and maintaining ongoing competency rather than viewing training as a one-time requirement.

The Bottom Line: Infection Control is an Ongoing Process

Maintaining compliance is an evolving process that requires constant attention. Regularly reviewing and updating infection control protocols, empowering and training staff, and conducting meaningful audits are all essential steps in safeguarding the health and safety of patients, staff, and the wider community.

By committing to these best practices, dental practitioners can uphold the highest standards of care and demonstrate professional integrity.

For additional resources, refer to the ADA Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines, the DCNZ Infection Prevention and Control Practice Standard, and the NHMRC Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare.

If you need assistance developing an IPMP template, setting up an audit framework, or delivering staff training, expert help is available to ensure your practice remains compliant.