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What is infection control?
Infection control is a set of recommended
safety precautions that dentists implement to protect their patients
and staff in the office. Strict infection control is required to
prevent the spread of disease, since many dental procedures involve
direct contact with blood and saliva. Improved infection control
procedures with heightened awareness of the dangers of infection
mean that the instruments and supplies your dentist uses in your
mouth are either heat sterilized, or they are disposable items intended
for one-time use.
Do all dentists practice infection control?
In 1986, less than 30 percent of dentists
wore gloves, masks or gowns. Today, these infection control tools
are required in all dental practices. To fight the spread of diseases,
such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), syphilis and herpes viruses, your
dentist has strict procedures and may use a variety of measures
to ensure that instruments used during dental procedures are sterile
As an extra precaution, many dentists and their staff may be vaccinated
for Hepatitis B, to prevent them from potentially passing it on
to patients. Sterilizing dental instruments, a process that destroys
all forms of microbial life, is also an important part of infection
control in a dental office.
How else does my dentist protect me?
When you first sit in the dental chair,
chances are the first thing you'll see is your dentist washing his
or her hands. Hands are washed at the start of the day, before putting
on and taking off gloves and after touching any potentially contaminated
surface.
Your dentist may use a variety of protective items
that are used once and then thrown away, including gloves, masks,
paper drapes, suction/water tube tips and needles.
Dentists and their assistants can use different kinds of protective
gloves. Latex or vinyl gloves are used for patient examinations
and procedures and are worn whenever skin could be in contact with
body fluids. Between patients, the gloves are thrown away, the hands
washed and a new set of gloves is used to treat the next patient.
For cleaning and sterilizing instruments, heavy rubber utility gloves
are used. If you are allergic to rubber or latex, your dentist can
wear nitrile gloves, which do not contain any latex rubber proteins.
What are universal precautions?
Universal precautions, used for every
patient, are safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association
(ADA). These precautions require all dental staff involved in patient
care to use appropriate protective wear, such as gloves, masks and
eyewear. For more information on CDC Infection Control guidelines,
please visit www.cdc.gov.
Do dentists sterilize the handpiece (drill)
and other instruments after each patient?
Dentists sterilize handpieces and
other instruments between patients to prevent the transmission of
diseases. Dental offices follow and monitor specific heat sterilization
procedures, which are outlined by the CDC and the ADA. Most dental
instruments are sterilized in special machines; it takes much more
than just soap and water to make sure instruments are free of bacteria.
Recommended sterilization methods include placing these tools into
an autoclave (steam under pressure), a dry heat oven, or chemical
vapor (commonly called a chemiclave). Typically, this equipment
is kept in the office away from a patient's view. Ask your dentist
to show you how and where instruments are sterilized.
How are other objects sterilized?
Before you enter the examination room,
all surfaces, such as the dental chair, drawer handles and counter
tops are disinfected. To sterilize equipment that can't be moved,
such as X-ray units and countertops, disinfectant is applied after
each patient to ensure a germ-free environment. Some offices may
drape this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced
after each patient. Disposable sharp items such as needles that
cannot be sterilized are disposed of in puncture-resistant biohazard
containers. Anything cont- aminated with blood or saliva is disposed
of in special containers with safety lids. Ask your dentist for
addition information on how he or she is keeping you safe from germs
and infectious diseases.
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