Infection controls and universal precautions protect clients and staff alike. Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control — you, your dentist, and the dental team. The cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust. You should feel free to discuss this topic with your doctor and receive a straightforward answer.
Long before the AIDS epidemic, our office was keenly aware that hepatitis, influenza, tuberculosis and many other disease-producing bacteria are communicable. With the invasion of the HIV virus, we doubled our efforts to achieve the most advanced asepsis and cleanliness. We do it for all of us – our staff and you – to prevent cross-contamination.
Often the precautions we take are obvious to you: gloves, eye protection, masks, and clothes that wash easily (scrubs). Other safeguards are more subtle. We carefully monitor our personal hygiene, using liquid antiseptic soaps and disposable towels. Instruments (including dental hand pieces) are either disposable, or treated in an ultra-sonic cleansing bath before being autoclaved in pressurized steam heat. We subscribe to a monthly service that monitors the effectiveness of our autoclave. Staff members are meticulous in the disinfection of work areas.
Our doctors and our entire team follow procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These measures include:
The best defense against disease is information. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your health care. The more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel.