Book excerpt: These recommendations should reduce the risk of disease transmission in the dental environment, from patient to dental health-care worker (DHCW), from DHCW to patient, & from patient to patient. Delineates recommendations for vaccination of DHCW's; protective attire & barrier techniques; hand washing & care of hands; the use & care of sharp instruments & needles; sterilization or disinfection of instruments; cleaning & disinfection of the dental unit & environmental surfaces; disinfection & the dental lab; use & care of hand pieces, anti retraction valves, & other intraoral dental devices.