Infection control is a critical aspect of the dental field, as it helps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases between patients, dental staff, and the environment.
Following proper infection control protocols ensures the safety of everyone involved. Review your IPC ( Infection Prevention and Control Standards) for your regulatory body.
Below are some standards of practice:
- Handwashing: Thorough handwashing is essential before and after patient contact. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available
Gloves
- Gloves: Always wear disposable gloves when touching patients or potentially contaminated surfaces.
- Change gloves between patients. If you touch any contaminated surfaces (eg ; hair, clothing, as well as the patients clothing) and /or they become damaged or soiled, change your gloves.
PPE( personal protective Equipment)
- Masks: Wear a mask to protect against respiratory droplets, especially when working in areas where aerosols are generated (e.g., during procedures like drilling or suctioning).
- Eye Protection: Wear safety glasses or face shields to protect against aerosols and other contaminants.
- Gowns: Wear protective gowns or lab coats to prevent contamination of clothing, when working on patients.
Sterilization
- Sterilizing Instruments: All critical instruments (those that come in contact with blood or other bodily fluids) must be sterilized between uses. This is usually done using an autoclave.
- Disinfecting Surfaces: Non-critical surfaces (e.g., countertops, chairs, light handles) should be cleaned with an EPA-registered disinfectant after each patient. High-touch areas should be cleaned regularly.
- Single-use Items: use disposable items such as syringes, needles, gloves, and masks.
Instruments
- Pre-Cleaning: Instruments should be pre-cleaned to remove debris before sterilization. Use an ultrasonic cleaner or manual scrubbing.
- Handling Sharps: Needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp objects should be handled with care and disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
- Storage: Properly store sterilized instruments in clean, dry, and covered containers to prevent contamination.
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- maintaining a sterile field, ensuring that all tools and equipment are sterile, and preventing contamination by non-sterile objects.
- After each patient, disinfect all surfaces of the dental chair, unit, and dental light, including handles and any devices the assistant may touch (such as X-ray equipment).
- Follow manufacturer's instructions for disinfectants and cleaning products to ensure they are effective against a broad range of pathogens.
- Dispose of waste, such as gauze, gloves, and masks, in the appropriate containers—biohazardous waste (for contaminated items) and regular trash (for non-contaminated items).
- Sharps must be disposed of in puncture-resistant containers to avoid injuries.
- Regularly flush dental waterlines. Use waterline cleaners recommended by the manufacturer to keep the lines clean and disinfected.
- Training
- Dental assistants should regularly attend infection control training sessions to stay up to date on the latest practices and protocols.
- Please refer to the IPC ( Infection Prevention and Control Standards) for your regulatory body, as well as specific standards for your individual office