Hand Hygiene
Hands make up for 68% of cross-contamination in a dental office. Washing hands to produce a decontaminated result takes knowledge, time, and skill. However, the hands must be prepared, meaning fingernails length must not be longer than the tips of the fingers. Nails must not be covered with artificial surfaces. Fingers and wrists must be free of all jewelry.
Wash your hands more frequently than you usually do. Using soap and water, lather the hands and work the lather on all surfaces of the hands and wrist for at least one minute. I know the CDC recommendation is 20 seconds minimum, but since most people do not use a timer when washing their hands, I say go for the one minute. If you fall short in time, it should be well above the CDC 20 seconds minimum. Drying hands is a very important step in the hand hygiene process. Make sure your hands are thoroughly dry.