1.1.5 - Clinical Dress Code

The healthcare provider/patient relationship is a cornerstone of your future professional career. The COD appreciates that clinical, educational, and research experiences can be influenced by the personal appearance and demeanor of all members of our college community. The confidence and trust of our patients are directly and indirectly influenced by their assessment of professional decorum, conduct, attitude, and personal appearance. It is incumbent on all of us in the college community to conduct ourselves with dignity, responsibility, and respect for others and to maintain appropriate dress and a well-groomed professional appearance in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the COD.

 

This operating procedure applies to all College of Dentistry facilities as well as all affiliated external sites. When workforce members are at affiliated external sites, should there be differences in policies, they must comply with the site’s policies and procedures, including those related to professional appearance and attire.

All workforce members and students must comply with the following guidelines for clinical participation.

IDENTIFICATION:

OU COD Badge must be:

• Always worn.
• Clearly visible.
• Worn above the waist.

 

CLINICAL APPEARANCE:

Hair, Facial Hair, and Head Coverings:

Allowed:

• Hair that is clean, neatly groomed, and a natural or neutral color.
• Long hair secured away from the face, overgown, and field of operation so it does not require handling during a procedure.
• Plain, simple hair accessories.
• Surgical scrub caps.
• Cloth head coverings worn for religious or medical purposes.
• Facial hair that is clean-shaven or neat, trimmed, and well-groomed.

Prohibited:

• Caps or hats.
• Fashion headscarves.
• Do-rags or skullcaps.
• Stocking or knit caps.

Fingernails:

Allowed:

• Nails must be neat, clean, and short enough to support the functional use of hands and fingers.
• Short natural nail tips.
• Nail/Gel polish must be smooth and free of chips or cracks.

Prohibited:

• Excessively long, visibly unclean, or soiled nails.
• Artificial fingernails.
• Nail appliqués, decorative designs, extenders, acrylics, nail enhancement, or resin bonding.
• Worn, chipped, or cracked polish.

Personal Hygiene & Fragrances:

Allowed:

• Clean and free of offensive body odor.
• Minimally evident scents.

Prohibited:

• Being visibly unclean or soiled.
• Body odor that has an offensive scent/smell.
• Excessive perfume, scents, cologne, or aftershave.

Jewelry & Accessories

Allowed:

• Earrings that do not hang below the bottom of the earlobe.
• Watches that are covered by the overgown.
• Smooth rings that do not compromise glove integrity.
• Jewelry that remains outside the field of operation.

Prohibited:

• Jewelry that presents a safety hazard, interferes with patient care, or compromises clinical protective barriers.
• Headphones, earbuds, or similar devices in clinical areas.

Tattoos:

Allowed:

• A professional appearance is expected.

Prohibited:

• Obscene images or words.
• Offensive based on gender, race, sexuality, or religion.
• Tattoos that have yielded patient or employee complaints must always be covered.
• Recently obtained tattoos must be covered until healed.

 

CLINICAL ATTIRE:

Scrubs/Clothing:

Allowed:

• Scrubs must be clean, wrinkle-free, properly fitted, and permit bending, leaning, and squatting while preserving modesty.
• Scrub tops and pants may be matching or coordinating in color.
• DDS and DHY students must wear the college-issued scrub uniform in their designated class color.
• Student scrub tops must be embroidered using the College-approved embroidery criteria.
• Scrub pants may be jogger or traditional style and must cover the legs without touching or dragging on the floor.
• A plain, solid-colored long- or short-sleeved shirt may be worn under the scrub top and must be tucked into the scrub pants.
• Workforce members are responsible for laundering their own scrubs.

College-Approved Font for Embroidery Criteria:

a. 1 centimeter tall
b. Full block font
c. White thread
d. First and last name

Additional Student Scrubs: Student-purchased scrub tops must meet the College-approved embroidery criteria.

Prohibited:

• Excessively tight or loose clothing.
• Clothing that exposes undergarments
• Ripped or frayed clothing.
• Undershirts or tops with inappropriate content.
• Capri-style scrub pants.
• Scrub pants that touch or drag on the floor.

Socks:

• Required.

Footwear:

Allowed:

• Clean, protective footwear that fits securely.
• Closed-toe, closed-heel footwear with a solid upper and no visible perforations or openings.
• Rubber or leather soles.

Prohibited:

• Open-toe or open-heel footwear.
• Crocs™ with holes.

Jackets and Coats:

Allowed:

• College-issued warm-up jacket or lab coat with monogrammed name.
• Scrub jackets can be plain or OUCOD design.
• Jackets may be worn in the clinic but not while treating a patient.

Prohibited:

• Jackets or coats worn chairside during patient treatment.
• Overgowns must not be worn in public areas.
• Overgowns must not be worn to the bathrooms, PSC offices, or waiting/reception areas.

Overgowns:

Required:

• Overgowns are required for aerosol generating procedures.

Prohibited:

• Overgowns must not be worn in public areas, including bathrooms, PSC offices, or waiting/reception areas.

 

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS:

Students:

All violations will result in the student being sent home to change, plus:

Violation	Corrective Action
First	Written warning (copy to Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and Director of Compliance).
Second	Professional Concerns Report (PCR) filed (copy to Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and Director of Compliance).
Third	Appearance before the appropriate Periodic Assessment Committee, which could result in further disciplinary action.

 

Workforce Members:

All violations will result in the workforce member being sent home to change, plus:

Violation	Corrective Action
First	Written e-mail warning from Director of Compliance to workforce member cc’d to workforce member’s supervisor.
Second	A review with Supervisor and Director of Compliance
Third	A review with the Dean of the College of Dentistry.
Fourth	Disciplinary measure up to and including dismissal

Any incident involving patient endangerment may result in immediate disciplinary action.

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control – Nail Hygiene

Centers for Disease Control – Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

Centers for Disease Control – Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Bloodborne Pathogens