Infection Control in the Dental Office

Infection Control

Infection control in our office is very important to us.  To protect our patients and ourselves, we strictly maintain sterilization and avoid cross contamination using standards recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Protecting your Health

We meet and exceed what are called “universal precautions.”  That means we use the protective measures set by the government and the American Dental Association with each patient to prevent transmission of the virus that causes any infectious disease. These universal precautions include:

·         Wearing gloves, masks, and protective eyewear

·         Washing hands and changing gloves after each patient

·         Sterilizing or disinfecting dental instruments after each use

·         Cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces in the treatment room and equipment after each patient

·         Disposing of needles and other sharp items in specially designed containers

·         Properly disposing of waste items and contaminated materials

Some of these precautions are readily visible to you during a dental visit.  You will see the general cleanliness of the office, the use of masks and gloves, special waste containers, and our frequent hand washing. Other precautions, such as sterilization and disinfection, are performed before your visit. 

Sterilization and Disinfection

Dental offices use various methods to sterilize and disinfect in order to kill bacteria and viruses. Our staff is well trained in these procedures and their appropriate use.

There are several acceptable methods for the sterilization of instruments.  For example, instruments that can withstand high temperatures may be sterilized in a steam autoclave by using steam under pressure or with dry heat in an oven-like environment called the Chemiclave. Other instruments that cannot be heated are scrubbed clean and then sterilized or disinfected in chemical solutions. These various methods of sterilization kill the viruses and other microscopic organisms capable of causing diseases.

We use disinfection procedures for surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization such as countertops, drawer handles, and X-ray unit heads.  A chemical agent, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as a hospital disinfectant, is used in our dental office. Disinfection is accomplished in the treatment rooms between patients to assure that the operatory is absolutely clean and sterile for each patient.

The use of disposable items is another way we maintain a clean and safe office.  Many dental materials such as gloves, masks, wipes, plastic drapes, needles, and scalpel blades are used only once and then disposed of properly.

Your health is our main concern

If you have any concerns, please feel free to bring them to our attention.  We want you to be assured that you are receiving the very best and safest dental care we can provide. Please remember that your healthy is our number one concern.

by Bernadette, CDA - December 10, 2009

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