New Infection Prevention and Control Standard Released
New IPAC requirements for dental hygiene practice in PEI
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The College of Dental Hygienists of PEI has approved a new Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Standard of Practice. All registrants are expected to implement the standard by August 1, 2026.
The College of Dental Hygienists of Prince Edward Island (CDHPEI) has approved a new Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Standard of Practice, replacing the previous document implemented in 2016.
Developed and adopted in collaboration with the PEI Dental College, the updated standard reflects current evidence, professional expectations, and regulatory requirements for infection prevention and control in dental hygiene practice settings.
The standard addresses:
- Key areas including patient screening
- Hand hygiene
- Personal protective equipment
- Sterilization and disinfection procedures
- Environmental infection control
- Exposure management, and
- Staff education and training
Under the new standard, every dental or dental hygiene practice must designate an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Officer responsible for implementation of the standard and staff training.
The College gratefully acknowledges the New Brunswick Dental Society and the New Brunswick College of Dental Hygienists for sharing resources that supported development of the PEI document.
The College is also currently developing a new Practice Guideline for dental hygienists working independently. Additional information will be shared with registrants and posted publicly on the website once finalized.
