As a reminder, effective Aug. 31, 2022, dentists will need to comply with the new requirement to sterilize low-speed hand piece motors after use. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an updated summary of the 2003 Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings. Soon after, and in response to correspondence received regarding infection control concerns, the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) opened its rules to revise existing dental infection control rules. The revisions incorporated many of the 2016 CDC recommendations, including, among other requirements, the sterilization of low-speed hand piece motors, annual infection prevention continuing education, and dental unit waterline testing.

While most of the other components of the dental infection control rules have been in effect since January 2021, the Commission provided an additional 18 months for dentists to comply with the new sterilization of low-speed hand piece motors requirement.

The Department Health (DOH) has put together some additional information on their website, including clarifying information concerning whether a battery-operated low-speed hand piece motor can be sterilized, whether a low-speed hand piece motor can be autoclaved, and what to do if the hand piece is not described in the rules. WSDA strongly encourages members to review the DOH website as well as WSDA’s Dental Infection Control page and FAQ.

Questions?

Should you have any specific questions regarding the new rules, please email DQAC Program Manager Amber Freeberg at Amber.Freeberg@doh.wa.gov.