How Your Dentist
Protects You From Cross Infection
|
Dentists have always been at
the forefront of infection control. The public has also now
become aware of this aspect of dental care. This page is designed
to inform you about the various precautions taken in a dental
clinic to safeguard your health.
Cross-infection is the transmission of disease causing
germs from one patient to another, or from the patient to the
dentist, or vice-versa. This is prevented by Universal
Precautions, so named because they are followed for all patients
who are treated at the clinic.
Universal Precautions involves many procedures, the most
important of which is Sterilization. All instruments are
thoroughly washed and then treated to kill all infection-causing
germs. This treatment may be in the form of heat or chemicals.
Heat is generally applied in an autoclave - steam under pressure
is used. Most metal instruments can be sterilized in an
autoclave. Non-metallic instruments can be sterilized by
immersion in chemicals.
Disposable items are those that are used once and
thrown away. These include needles, scalpel blades, suction tips,
napkins, glasses, gloves, etc.
Barriers are items used to stop infection from
crossing a particular area. Your dentist routinely wears gloves,
masks, eye glasses or face shields during treatment. These serve
as protective barriers against the transmission of diseases.
Gloves are disposed of after each patient.
Surface Disinfection is a procedure carried out after every
patient. The dental assistant ensures that the dental chair and
other surfaces which are contaminated are wiped with disinfectant
chemicals.
