PURPOSE

The dress and appearance for all students enrolled at the School of Dentistry is expected to project a professional image that enhances the faculty, patient, staff, and visitor confidence in students as competent members of a health care team committed to education, service, and quality care.

In compliance with OSHA regulations and CDC guidelines regarding personal protection and infection control, this policy defines acceptable dress and appearance standards for all dental students.

POLICY

1. Students are required to wear scrub sets (matching top and pants) per their designated class color as made available by the school’s selected vendor. The dress code does not permit jogger-style pants and does require tops to be embroidered with the school logo.
2. Scrubs must be clean, neat, and fit appropriately.
3. Long or short sleeve undershirts may be worn provided they are solid, neutral color (options to consider include white, gray, black, or blue). Short sleeve undershirts should not extend beyond the length of the scrub top or sleeves.
4. Solid color or Creighton branded jackets and sweaters may be worn in the classrooms, but hooded sweatshirts are not permitted.
5. A clean clinic/laboratory gown with the appropriate name tag must be worn for all laboratory and clinic sessions over scrubs and is considered personal protective equipment (See Clinic Policy).  Clinic gowns used in patient care should be removed before leaving the clinic area and are not to be worn in non-clinical areas of the building.  Visible soiled laboratory gowns should be removed and replaced with a new gown.  Clinic/laboratory gowns are not to be worn outside the building.  Clinic gowns can be transported for use when attending professional activities at CHI Creighton University Medical Center – University Campus or extra-mural sites if needed.  Contaminated gowns from offsite locations should be placed in a blood borne pathogen bag for transport back to the School of Dentistry for laundering.
6. Hair (including facial hair) must be clean and neatly groomed.  Hair must not obstruct the field of vision or come into contact with equipment or supplies used in patient care.  Hair must not intrude into the face of the patient or the field of operation.  In the laboratory and clinic, hair must be pulled back for safety reasons.  Means of securing the hair (such as pony-tail holders, hair clips, bobby pins or surgical caps) must be worn when necessary.
7. Skin on the legs or feet must be covered.
8. Ergonomic footwear that covers the entire instep (top of foot) is acceptable.  Work boots or open-toe shoes are not acceptable.
9. Jewelry must not be distracting or interfere with gloves or the field of operation.
10. Body piercings (with the exception of ear piercings which should not dangle nor be excessive in size) should be covered or removed while in class/lab/clinic.
11. Only head coverings related to specific religious beliefs are permitted.  Surgical caps are permitted during patient treatment.
12. Fingernails are to be kept short with smooth, filed edges to allow thorough cleaning and prevent glove tears.
13. Tattoos (quarter, half, and full sleeve) should be covered at all times. Tattoos deemed inappropriate, vulgar, obscene must be covered while in the school facility and during extramural rotations.
14. Perfume/colognes/after shaves and other noticeable scents should be avoided given patient and colleague sensitivity to scents/odors.

PROCEDURE: Compliance with the dress and appearance standards will be monitored by the faculty and administrators. Students who do not exhibit proper professional appearance per the policy will be privately informed by the faculty member why their appearance is inappropriate.   Students who have been informed more than once of inappropriate dress or appearance will be referred to the appropriate administrator (Director of Clinics or Assistant/Associate Dean for Student Affairs)  The Director of Clinics may dismiss students whose attire does not conform to the dress code policy.   

SCOPE: Between the hours of 7:30 am and 5:00 pm (except holidays/break periods) or whenever engaging in any type of patient or public contact representing the school, students must abide by the dress and appearance standard.

The dress and appearance standard is a universal standard that applies to all classrooms, lecture halls, clinics and laboratories.  Exceptions can only be authorized at the discretion of the Assistant/Associate Dean for Clinics or Assistant/Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION OF POLICY

The University reserves the right to modify, amend or terminate this guideline document at any time.

Approved by the School of Dentistry:  09/19/2022