INFECTION
CONTROL.....................
Most
professional Cosmetic dental surgeries provide a safe and
clean environment. They should meet or exceed all guidelines
set forth by the ADA, OSHA, and the Center for Disease Control.
They should employ
hospital cleanliness standards and sterilization techniques.
Using a three-step sterilization process on all instruments
and handpieces, with the last step being steam sterilization,
each patient we treat is completely protected.
Providing a good clean, disinfected environment for each
patient is critical. We use plastic coverings in all of
our treatment rooms and all water used for patient treatment
passes through an ultra-violet sterilization process. We
also use protective equipment such as latex gloves, masks,
eyewear, and lab coats. And when possible, we use disposable
items.
The AACDr welcomes
your questions and the opportunity to demonstrate how we
handle sterilization techniques and patient protection.
We want you to feel comfortable about your treatment.
HYGIENE EQUIPMENT
UTILISED AT THE SMILES DR
SIROCLAVE B
- First-class
sterilization results.
The professional sterilization.
• The fractionated vacuum prior to sterilization ensures
optimum steam penetration: ideal for difficult sterilization
jobs and for wrapped instruments (solid and hollow instrument
types, Class A+B)
• DUAL Water system
• Complies with the most stringent hygiene norms (prEN 13060-1/-2)
>>For
more information on this product click here
___________________________________________________________
SIRODEM
Cost-effective solution for
water treatment.
Fully desalinated water.
For laboratories and dental/medical practices.
Why purchase expensive distilled water?
The SIRODEM water treatment system allows you to produce
purified water simply and at low cost.
>>For
more information on this product click here
_____________________________________________________________
THE
MIELE 
The Miele G 7881
Dental Washer Disinfector is designed for efficient cleaning
and thermal disinfection of dental instruments. The unit
cleans and disinfects instruments with a high-temperature
cycle rather than a chemical bath. The system allows a dental
office to bypass many manual steps that were once required
to clean instruments. The G 7881 Dental Washer Disinfector
does 4 steps in 1: Pre-soak, Rinse, Clean and Dry!
Using the G 7881 Dental Washer Disinfector, you simply load
the machine, select a cycle and let the machine do the rest.
The fully automated system eliminates the need for pre-soaking,
hand scrubbing, rinsing and drying, making instruments ready
for sterilization more quickly and safely. Its impressively
quiet performance helps the dental office operate without
distraction.
With more and more dental offices renovating old spaces
and building new ones, there is a growing trend to find
high tech equipment to gain efficiency. The Miele G 7881
Dental Washer Disinfector is the right choice for progressive
dental practices that are interested in streamlining cleaning
and modernizing sterilization areas.
The Miele G 7881 Dental Washer Disinfector is the result
of extensive R&D in close cooperation with the dental
industry. It has been developed specifically for the cleaning
of dental instruments and accessories, and is suitable for
reducing the risk of infection by providing high-level disinfection.
Clean and disinfected
instruments are the result of four key elements. The mechanical
action of the water provides a natural scrubbing effect,
detergents chemically attack the soil, the proper water
temperature aids the chemical and mechanical action, and
sufficient time allows these elements to work to full effect.
High Level
Disinfection
During the processing
and packaging of soiled dental instruments, personnel are
required by CDC guidelines to wear heavy gloves while handling
the instruments. Not only does this slow the process of
sterilization and disinfection, but a puncture wound exposes
the worker to risk of infection from the patient. High-level
disinfection makes instruments clean enough to be handled
with bare hands. Not only is this faster and easier, it
also eliminates the dangerous step of scrubbing the instruments
by hand.
The G 7881 Dental Washer Disinfector offers a program for
thermal disinfection with simultaneous cleaning, rinsing,
and optional drying of instruments and accessories. The
disinfection takes place at 93ºC/200ºF with a holding time
of 10 minutes, resulting in tuberculocidal disinfection
including the inactivation of HIV, MTV and HBV without the
use of chemical disinfectants. When retrieving the instruments/cassettes
from the disinfector, they are safe for handling.
____________________________________________________________
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
You may not be aware that sterilization and other infection
control precautions take place, because many of these procedures
occur out of your view. We want to give you some tips on
how to talk with your dentist, and on some of the things
you can look for in your dentist's office to allay your
anxiety about patient safety. Spending a few minutes talking
about infection control procedures will not only boost your
confidence, it also will help you become a smart dental
consumer and form a successful relationship with your dentist.
Here's what you should ask.
I've heard
about universal precautions. Can you tell me what they are?
Universal precautions
are safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association.
They are used for each and every patient to prevent the
transmission of the AIDS virus and other infectious diseases.
These precautions require all dental staff involved in patient
care to use appropriate protective garb such as gloves,
and sometimes masks and eyewear. After each patient visit,
the gloves are discarded, hands are washed and a new pair
of gloves is used for the next patient.
Do you sterilize the instruments
including the handpiece (drill) after each patient?
According to a recent
study in the journal of the American Dental Association,
virtually all dentists sterilize their handpiece (drill)
between patients. Dental offices follow specific heat sterilization
procedures which are outlined by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association.
Disposable items, such as needles and saliva ejectors, cannot
be sterilized and are discarded in special containers.
How do you sterilize the
instruments? Can you show me how it's done?
Dental instruments
are cleaned and sterilized at very high temperatures after
each time they are used on a patient. Recommended sterilization
methods include: an autoclave (steam under pressure), a
dry heat oven, or chemical vapor (commonly called a chemiclave).
The sterilization equipment usually is not in the treatment
room, but if you'd like to see how and where it's done,
ask the dental staff to show you.
How do you clean and disinfect
the examining room, and how often is this done?
Before you enter
the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair,
dental light, drawer handles and countertops have been cleaned
and decontaminated. Some offices may cover this equipment
with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.
Sharp items and anything contaminated with blood or saliva
are disposed of in special containers.
Are there other safety guidelines
that dentists must follow?
Yes. OSHA, the federal
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has specific
regulations that protect employees from injury and illness
in the work place. These "safe workplace" regulations
pertain to occupational settings, including dental offices
with one or more employees. While the primary purpose of
the regulations is to safeguard employees, these procedures
also protect the patient. For example, gloves provide protection
for both you and the dental team.
Don't let uncertainty about safety
keep you away from the dentist's office, or cause anxiety
while you're there, when a few minutes of conversation with
your dentist can set your mind at ease.
Your dental health is too important
to neglect. Remember to learn the facts about your dentist's
infection control procedures by starting with a little heart-to-heart.
If you don't have a dentist, you
can obtain ADA referrals by contacting your local dental
society. The local dental society is usually listed in the
telephone directory under "dentist" or "association."
What are the things to look
for?
Is the dental office clean and orderly?
Is the dental staff helpful and willing to answer your questions?
Do the dentist and staff wear gloves and other appropriate
protective gear during all actual patient treatment?
Do the dentist and staff wash their hands before donning
a clean pair of gloves?
Do all surfaces and equipment in the treatment room appear
clean?
Are needles and other sharp items disposed of in special
puncture-resistant containers?
Is everything that is used in the patient's mouth either
heat sterilized or disposable?
