Ms. Dewhirst graduated from the University of Southern California, practiced dental hygiene for 20 years, is adjunct dental hygiene faculty at West Coast University, and is a member of Sigma Phi Alpha. Ms. Dewhirst is consistently listed as one of the nation’s “Leaders in CE”, presents over 100 interactive workshops and seminars a year, is featured at major U.S. and Canadian Dental Conferences, and is a licensed California CE Provider. She is an ANSI/ADA Standards Program member and committee chair, Editor-in-Chief of OSAP’s Infection Control In Practice, has had many articles published in dental peer-reviewed journals, and has contributed to dental textbooks and ADA, OSAP, and State and University guidance documents.

This seminar explores personal health issues such as new and altered diseases of importance to dental professionals, including bloodborne diseases, and respiratory and contact diseases.  Attention is given to resistant pathogens, biofilm diseases, and pathogens with pandemic potential, particularly respiratory diseases, relative to occupational risk, illness prevention, and post-exposure responses.    Leave with a plan for managing today’s microbial challenges using Standard and Transmission-based precautions, including building air safety control.

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Recognize and assess well-known infectious diseases,
• Be able to identify and explain current trends in infectious diseases,
• Be informed of and prepared for safety challenges,
• Select infection control and safety strategies for usual and unusual disease risks.

Cancellation and Refund Policies