Hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of infection and is considered to be the single most important infection prevention activity in healthcare. Hand hygiene is part of Standard Infection Control Precautions. Several guidance documents have recently been published that emphasize the importance of carrying out excellent hand hygiene in dental practice. The three levels of hand hygiene are social hand hygiene, hygienic hand decontamination and surgical scrub, the choice depending on the procedure undertaken. The following article summarizes the basic principles of hand hygiene for the General Dental Practitioner and his/her dental team.