Quickie Factoids About Infection Control In Your Dentist Office

Germaphobes, if you have been avoiding sitting in that dental chair because of the germ factor, go ahead and make that appointment that you have been putting off. Dental offices are now cleaner than ever and follow many safety precautions to ensure that you do not get an infection during your “open up and say ahh” session.

Many dentist offices these days welcome the chance to give you a tour of the facilities so that you can put your mind at ease in regards to potential infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the American Dental Association (ADA) have come up with a list of what they call universal precautions which basically safety procedures and preventative measures to protect both dental staff and patients from the transmission of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.

Universal precautions came about after there were some reports of AIDS and hepatitis being transmitted via dental surgery and routine dental maintenance. This was quite a few years ago but the CDC and ADA jumped on the problem quickly to ensure that no one else was affected. In general, these precautions spell out proper protective measures such as the requirement that all dental staff involved with actual patient care wear protective gear such as gloves, masks and even protective shields, depending on the work being done.

Sterilization Issues

Practically all dentists sterilize their hand drill between each patient visit. In addition, there are several ways that dentists can sterilize their other equipment as well. A chemiclave could be employed using chemicals to eradicate germs from tools. Dry heat or even an autoclave which uses steam can also be used to clean instruments.

There are also a host of disposable items that dentists use which are discarded after each use. Needles to give shots, saliva ejectors, tongue depressors and more are all opened from sterile packaging so there are no worries about germs.

Dental staff also has the job of disinfecting all the hard surfaces in the examination room between patients. EPA approved disinfectants are sprayed on the dental chair, dental lights, countertops, hand rests, drawer pulls and more. This will kill any errant germs lying in wait on hard surfaces for you to touch.

Other Things to Think About

When you are still shopping around for a dental office, ask to take a tour and see the facilities and meet with the dentist. The tour should help you have a better understanding on their cleanliness procedures and see that they do wear disposable gloves which are discarded after each use and that masks and other protective gear are employed. Also how the administrative staff runs the office will give a clear indication of the overall work ethic too.

Feeling doubtful about even one issue should prompt you to ask questions. Do not let your fear of germs prevent you from going to the dentist. Good dental care is part of overall good health. Rest assured that dentists do follow safety procedures and guidelines so that you are perfectly safe from infectious diseases and other health issues.

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