Who on the dental team is responsible for maintaining proper infection control protocols?
Dentists, staff and surgical instruments are constantly under exposure to potentially infected oral tissues, saliva, and blood. Therefore, dental healthcare professionals must verify that they prevent cross-infection from infected patients to other patients and between members of the dental team. In this article, we will provide a summary of the different
components related to infection control and prevention in dentistry. By the end of the article you will be able to create your own infection control plan. The first step toward change is awareness. Awareness and knowledge are among the essential requirements for control and prevention of infection in dentistry. All parties involved in dental treatment must be aware of the possible processes of the spread of dental disease from one patient to
another. Three parties are involved: Education and awareness alone are not enough. A professional must possess an ethical and professional commitment to ensure the control of dental infection and disease. Education and mindfulness, will, of
course, help develop this commitment. Adherence to Standards and GuidelinesThe responsibility for providing standards and guidelines for safe practice are overseen on the national and international level. In the UK, for example, the Infection prevention society provides guidelines which should be followed by dental professionals for practicing control and prevention of cross-infection in the dental environment. . Dental professionals should understand the requirements in their county as well as international standards. Generally, there are two levels of preventative measures. StandardTaken with all patients as a routine without any knowledge of the patient’s infection status. These must be taken to minimize the risk of infection transmission from the secretions, excretions, body fluids, blood, etc., from the patient. They include:
Special Precautions for At-Risk PatientsPrecautions must be practiced with patients suffering from infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C:
Cleaning the Dental Unit WaterlineAnother potential source of infection in dental practice is the waterline. A dedicated waterline should be arranged for sterilization, and for instruments that require water during use, such as dental handpieces, ultrasonic scalers etc. Regular inspection of the waterline is also necessary to prevent biofilm formation that can result in infection. Patient History TrackingAnother potential source of infection in dental practice is the waterline. A dedicated waterline should be arranged for sterilization, and for instruments that require water during use, such as dental handpieces, ultrasonic scalers etc. Regular inspection of the waterline is also necessary to prevent biofilm formation that can result in infection. Let's SummarizeThe purpose of these measures is to prevent and control infection, and they must become an essential part of any dental practice’s core values. Dentists and clinic managers are entrusted with the safety of their patients and dental team. Therefore, they should devise a comprehensive process within their practice to minimize infection transmission, and to create a safe atmosphere for their patients and dental staff. If your practice follows infection control guidelines combined with the use of high quality sterile processing products and solutions, then you are most likely to be ranked among the top in the field. It’s clear that a dental professional who emphasizes safety, not only because it’s required, but as something of values is worthy to be trusted and respected by patients. About Tuttnauer – You’re a one-stop shop for
sterile dental processing For further information and to inquire about purchasing the T-Edge 10 autoclave for your practice, visit the T-Edge page on our website. Tuttnauer Team is made up of veteran staff at Tuttnauer that are responsible for communicating with our customers about sterilization and infection control. Let us know if there is anything specific you want to read more about. Who on the dental team is responsible for maintaining proper infection control protocols quizlet?Who on the dental team is responsible for maintaining proper Infection Control protocols? All members of the clinical dental team are responsible for maintaining proper infection control techniques.
What is the importance of infection control in dentistry?Proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces is essential to prevent the contamination and spread of infectious organisms in all dental settings. Another factor that increases the risk of disease transmission in medical/dental setting is the persistence of many pathogens in the health-care environment.
What is one of CDC's key recommendations for dental health care personnel DHCP safety?Provide dental treatment only after you have assessed the patient and considered both the risk to the patient of deferring care and the risk to DHCP and patients of healthcare-associated SARS-COV-2 transmission.
What involves patient to dental team cross contamination?Cross contamination includes percutaneous incidents, in particular needle stick injuries, with inadvertent skin wounds to the dentist and staff. Such accidents involve exposure to serious infection agents including the possibility of transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis B and C.
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