ADAA Webinar: The Why Behind Infection Control: A Practical Guide for Dental Assistants
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Continuing Education: 1 CE
Pricing: Free for members | $25 for nonmembers
Registration link (on our new portal) will come soon!
This webinar equips dental assistants with the foundational knowledge and practical tools to implement and maintain a compliant infection control program. Moving beyond checklists, participants will explore the reasoning behind key protocols, from sterilization and waterline management to documentation and regulatory alignment, empowering them to protect patients and elevate the standard of care in their practice. AGD Code: 148
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to…
- Explain the rationale behind key infection control protocols, including sterilization, waterline management, and PPE use, beyond rote compliance.
- Describe the components of a comprehensive infection control program aligned with CDC, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards.
- Discuss strategies for building a culture of infection control within a dental team, including staff training and documentation practices.
- Identify common infection control deficiencies found in dental settings and describe corrective actions to address them.
- Apply lessons from a real-world FQHC quality improvement model to their own dental practice setting.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings (2003)
- CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care (2016)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
- The Joint Commission. Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Ambulatory Care (CAMAC)
- American Dental Association (ADA). Dental Waterline Compliance Resources
- Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Certification in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) Competency Framework
Speaker
Monica Padilla, CDIPC
Healthcare & Dental Operations Manager | Infection Control Specialist
Monica Padilla is a Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) professional and healthcare operations leader with over 15 years of dental experience including Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) settings. She built a comprehensive dental infection control program from the ground up, achieving zero deficiencies in the 2022 Joint Commission survey and near-perfect results in 2025, with the surveyor stating, “You aced it.” Monica is an AHEC-Certified Spanish Medical Interpreter, bringing a rare bilingual advantage to infection control education and patient care. She is a presenter at the 2026 Association for Dental Safety (ADS) Annual Conference and an ADAA Textbook Reviewer. Her work focuses on empowering dental teams to understand not just the how — but the why — behind infection control.
Credentials & Highlights
- Certified in Dental Infection Prevention & Control (CDIPC) — DANB, 2025
- AHEC-Certified Medical Interpreter — Spanish/English
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration — Charter Oak State College
- ADS 2026 Presenter — Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
- ADAA Textbook Reviewer — Infection Control (x2)
- 15+years’ experience in dental and FQHC operations
- Joint Commission experience
Accreditation
Upon attendance and completion of a webinar evaluation, you will be sent a CE certificate within 2 weeks of the event. This webinar will be recorded and available on-demand on our e-Learning Center (CE available) within 2 weeks as well.
American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by
any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
6/1/2025 to 5/31/2028.
Provider ID# 217389