Best Practice: Not Optional, but Essential

In dentistry, and especially in infection prevention and control (IPAC), the term “best practice” is often misunderstood. Many assume it's an optional extra, something aspirational or “above and beyond” the standards. But in reality, best practice is not about going beyond the standards, it's about fully meeting them through a responsible, evidence-informed, and risk-managed approach.

Let me explain.

When we say “best practice,” what we really mean is: meeting the standards with accountability. Best practice is about taking the regulatory standards and interpreting them through the lens of risk management, tailoring them to your specific clinical environment. It's not an abstract concept or a luxury for high-end clinics. It is the professional duty of every regulated health professional.

Why Standards Sound Vague—And Why That's Intentional

Often, standards are written broadly. This is not because regulators are trying to be unclear, but because they can't know the specific risks and workflows in your practice. A standard must apply equally to an oral surgery clinic, an orthodontic practice, and a mobile hygiene unit, very different clinical environments with very different risk profiles.

This is where your professional responsibility comes in. It's up to you to interpret and apply those standards appropriately within your context. That interpretation, rooted in evidence and risk, is what we call best practice.

Real-World Example: Chemical Indicators

One of the most debated topics in sterilization practices is the use of Type IV vs. Type V chemical indicators. The standard may state that at minimum a Type IV is required in each package. But let's pause there, minimum means baseline compliance, not excellence.

So why settle?

A Type V indicator is engineered to measure not only time and temperature (like a Type IV) but also pressure. Given that sterilization depends on all three parameters, the Type V is clearly the better tool for validating the sterilization process. It's not “extra”, it's simply the responsible choice when considering what the standard is truly trying to ensure: safe, effective sterilization. Best practice here means meeting the standard in the most comprehensive and risk-informed way possible.

Another Example: Disinfecting with Wipes

Here's another common question I receive: “Is it really best practice to use more than one disinfectant wipe on a hard surface?”

Let's walk through the risk management logic.

• Step 1: Cleaning and disinfecting are two separate actions.
• Step 2: One wipe may not have the capacity to clean visible debris and deliver an effective disinfectant dwell time.
• Step 3: Think about your operatory—how many surfaces are you wiping? Are you moving from less contaminated areas (e.g., light handles) to more contaminated zones (e.g.bracket table)?

Standards may not spell this out in exact terms. But best practice demands that we apply critical thinking. More than one wipe may be necessary to break the bioburden, ensure full contact time, and reduce cross-contamination, especially when disinfecting high-touch or high-risk surfaces.

The Bottom Line

Best practice is not about being better than the next clinic. It's about doing what is right for your patients, your team, and your environment, through the full and responsible application of the standards.

Instead of asking, “How little can we do and still pass an audit?”, the better question is: “What would a responsible professional do in this situation to fully meet their obligations under the standard?”

That answer, that thoughtful, evidence-informed, risk-aware decision, is best practice. It's not optional, it's a professional choice to keep your office doors open and your clients safe.

Michelle Aubé (Simmonds) RDH, maxill Dental Hygiene Educator

Michelle is a Dental Hygiene Speaker, Consultant and Educator with over 30 years of experience as a RDH and 4 years as a CDA. She is a professor and curriculum writer at Fanshawe College in both the dental hygiene and continuing education program sharing her knowledge in IPAC, professional practice, periodontal classification, social justice, advocacy and clinical applications. She is maxill's CE and IPAC Director and wears various IPAC hats including auditing federal correctional facilities dental clinics for IPAC standards. Michelle is ODHA's Regional Board Director and authors articles for CDHA's OH Canada professional publication and continues to practice clinically in London ON. She is a CDHO IPAC Remedial Facilitator and IPAC Expert Opinion. Her strong ethics has allowed her to serve on the Discipline Committee at Algonquin College and hold the position of a CDHO Quality Assurance Assessor for 7 years. As a lifelong learner she is completing a BA in Adult Education at Brock University. Her diverse dental background and current status as a practicing RDH offer a fulsome and realistic view of dental-related topics. As a passionate champion for the profession, she advocates for equity, professional autonomy, and systemic change, true grassroots leadership at its finest.

Michelle can be reached at [email protected]