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Spread of infections in dental offices can be prevented by following infection prevention practices. These standard practices are so designed so as to protect patients and dental personnel from potentially harmful infections. Contamination by air-route and contact (Transmission-Based) are considered at secondary level because a patient do not seek for a treatment in dental office when acutely ill.

Training and education is the principle element of standard precaution practice as they are helpful in complying with the recommended practices and making appropriate decisions.

Some standard precautions include following:

1. Maintaining hand hygiene
2. Using personal protective equipment
3. Prevention of cough etiquette infection
4. Sharps safety
5. Intending safe injection practices
6. Sterilizing instruments and devices
7. Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces
8. Maintaining water quality

Maintaining hand hygiene: It is the primary concern of every dentist to maintain good hand hygiene. It is the most important measure to prevent infection among patients and dental personnel.

• For routine dental examinations and nonsurgical procedures: Water and plain soap can be used for hand washing. Other options may also be preferred like using hand antisepsis soap, using alcohol-based hand rub.

• For surgical procedures: Performing surgical hand scrub before wearing sterile surgeon’s gloves is must.

Using personal protective equipment: These are referred to as equipment that are wearable and are specially designed to protect patients and dental personnel from potential infections. They are appropriate to use as they effectively covers skin and personal clothing that is likely to be soiled with saliva, blood and organic contaminants. Some of personal protective equipment includes:

• Gloves (when situation includes probable contact with mucous membranes, body fluids and non-intact skin)

• Protective clothing (laboratory coat, jacket, disposable and reusable gown protects personal clothing in procedures involving contact with body fluids and blood)

• Protective eye wear, face masks and face shields (to protect from splashes of body fluids and blood)

Personal protective equipment should be removed before leaving work areas.

Prevention of cough etiquette infection: These measures are designed to prevent transmission of respiratory pathogens by airborne routes. Signs of such illnesses includes cough, running nose, increased respiratory secretions and cough.

Respiratory hygiene should be maintained in such cases like: covering their mouth when coughing, use of disposable tissues for running nose, maintaining hand after coming in contact with respiratory secretions.

Sharps safety: Scalpels, blades, needles and other sharp instruments contaminated with patient’s saliva and blood are potentially infectious. One-handed scoop technique or a mechanical device should be used to hold the needle cap while recapping needles.

Disposable scalpel blades, syringes and needles should be placed in an appropriate puncture resistant container. This container should be placed near the area where they are used.

Intending safe injection practices: Intending safe injection practice means performing injections in the best possible safe manner to protect the patients from infections. Injection should be prepared in a clean area with aseptic technique and should not be used for more than one patient.

Single-use medication vials and ampules should not be reused for other patient.

Sterilizing instruments and devices: Reusable dental tools and equipment should be properly sterilized and disinfected before using it for patients. It should be done according to manufacturer instructions. If there is no manufacturer instruction for sterilization them the instrument may not be reused.

Effectiveness of sterilization can be checked by using chemical, mechanical and biological indicators.

Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces: Dental office should be well cleaned to prevent the pathogenic effects of microorganisms. Cleaning helps in removing microorganisms from the surface and disinfection eliminated pathogenic microorganisms (except some microbial forms like bacterial spores). Emphasis should be placed on some areas which are frequently touched like: switches, computer equipment, light handles, bracket trays etc.

Use of surface barriers protects contact surface from getting infected. Disinfected or detergents used should be EPA-registered.

Maintaining water quality: In a dental office, water should be properly treated to prevent health risks to patients and dental personnel. Inconsistent flow rate, long narrow bore tubing can develop biofilm and promote bacterial growth. Sterile water or sterile saline water should be used as a coolant while performing surgical procedures.

These basic infection prevention practices make a dental office completely free from potential infections. Our Chula Vista dental office is practicing safe quality control guidelines to provide best treatment to patients.