Ace the Washington State Dental Hygiene Drug & Law Exam 2025 – Smile Bright, Score High!

The option indicating patients and dental staff represents a potential source of infection in a dental setting because both groups interact closely with one another and can transmit infectious agents. Patients may carry pathogens that can be spread through direct contact or respiratory droplets, while dental staff, including dentists and hygienists, are at risk of exposure to these pathogens during treatment procedures. They may also inadvertently harbor and transmit infections if proper infection control protocols are not followed.

Infection control in a dental office is critical as it involves not only the dental professionals but also the patients who may not be aware of their status concerning infectious diseases. The risk enhances in dental settings due to procedures that create aerosols, making it essential to recognize both patients and staff as potential sources of infection.

The other options do not accurately encompass the breadth of potential sources of infection in a dental setting. While non-dental staff members may contribute to infection risk, their impact is less direct compared to the interactions between patients and dental staff. Office equipment can be a source of infection but only if not properly sterilized or disinfected; thus, it is not the only source. Focusing solely on the dental hygienist disregards the multifactorial nature of infection control, where multiple personnel and patients are involved in the process