Infection Control in Dental Practices

Need of Infection Control in Dental Clinic  Both dentists and patients can get infected by exposeure to pathogens. Close contact with blood, contaminated equipment, oral and respiratory

secretons. Treatments carried out properly can protect patiensta dn dental experts from

transmission of infection.

Elements of Standard Precautions..

Aseptic Techniques Hand Hygiene Use of masks, gloves,

eye protection and gowns.

Waste Management Injury Prevention Re-processing of

equipment Environmental Surfaces

Some Specific Precautions..

Before Treatment Pass running water through every water system  Clean the working surfaces and dental equioement to

disinfect them  Keep minimum equipment out for usage during the

treatment  Sterilise the instruments and dispose them in possible

cases

During Treatment  Open cuts and abrasions of the skin

should be properly dressed up  Avoid touching materials other than

instruments with hand gloves on  Working distance should be

maintained to avoid contamination from the patient’s mouth

  Blood flow and fluid spillage should

be taken care of immediately

Personal Health Elements of an Infection Control Program o Education and training o Immunizations o Managing medical conditions and illness and limitations related to work o Managing exposure and post exposure o Health record maintenance

Blocking Transmission of Bloodbourne Pathogens  Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV are bloodbourne viruses that

gets transmitted in health care environment causes chronic infection

Strategies to Prevent Exposure

Engineering controls

Administrative controls

Work-practice controls

Engineering Controls  Remove or detach all the

hazardous elements  Example: Sharp containers

and medical instruments that can cause injury

 

Administrative Controls  Procedures, policies and informant measures  Hierarchical placement varies depending on the problem addressed

Work-practice Controls

  Bring variation in the working manners,

i.e task performing Example: Single-handed needle

recapping, Use of instruments in place of fingers to check tissues.

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