Proper hand hygiene is the most important step dental practices can take in the name of infection control and prevention. For Global Handwashing Day, we examine the history, challenges and best practices for hand hygiene in the dental setting.
Creating a culture of safety at your dental practice
A team commitment to infection prevention ensures the health, safety and satisfaction of your patients and staff while protecting your practice from costly repercussions.
Combating cross-contamination in the dental setting
Maintaining a safe, infection-free practice means avoiding cross-contamination whenever possible. Here are some best practices for proper hand hygiene, instrument processing and surface asepsis prevention.
Dental Industry News: Latest CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control
A main goal behind the latest CDC COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance for health care settings is to streamline and group guidance for health care settings in one place.
Managing Aerosols in the Dental Office is Not a New Idea!
The simplest way to prevent aerosol generation in the dental office is to use equipment that does not generate aerosols. For dental hygienists, during the COVID-19 pandemic this has meant little to no use of ultrasonic scaling equipment, a greater reliance on hand scaling and an increased risk of hand and wrist fatigue. The AeroPro Cordless Prophy Handpiece System is one solution.
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Linda Harvey: 5 Common Denominators of Compliance [VIDEO]
Compliance is a critical aspect of any successful dental practice. As such, it’s important to stay on top of current standards, laws and guidelines to safeguard your dental practice and patients. Here are five common denominators of compliance every practice should consider.
Proper Hand Hygiene in the Age of COVID-19
Hand washing, though it may seem simplistic during a pandemic, can actually be the most effective way of preventing the spread of germs, including those that cause COVID-19. As dental practices navigate the recent challenges related to COVID-19 and work to implement strategies to protect patients and staff, a closer look at hand hygiene may prove helpful.
Dentistry Beyond 2020: Looking Forward to the Future
To say that 2020 was a year of rapid change is an understatement. After a brief shutdown of practices across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dental industry reopened with the adoption of new technologies, stricter infection control guidelines and a renewed focus on personal and team wellness. Linda Harvey, MS, RDH, HRM, shares her thoughts on what’s in store for 2021.
Dental Instrument Reprocessing and Waterline Maintenance: Behind the Scenes
Safety is a critical part of every dental patient’s experience. They want to feel comfortable about the care you and your team provide, and that includes the steps you take to ensure they’re safe from infection. What patients see in your waiting room and operatories is only part of the story. Would they still feel good about your practice if they looked into your sterilization room or could inspect your dental unit waterlines?
Equip Your Dental Practice with Next-Level Sanitization with PurLite Clean UV-C Cleaner
Keeping high-touch personal items and PPE clean can provide additional safeguards against the spread of COVID-19. One solution for sanitizing high-touch personal items is the new PurLite™ Clean UV-C Cleaner. PurLite is a sanitizer that uses advanced, medical grade UV-C technology to provide a fast and effective way to ensure patients and employees feel safe and protected while in your office.
The WHO Just Recommended the Delay of Routine Dental Care due to COVID-19. Now What?
The WHO recently recommended the delay of routine dental care in certain situations due to COVID-19. In a written response, the ADA said it “respectfully yet strongly disagrees” with the WHO’s recommendation. Roger P. Levin, DDS, shared a video outlining a scripted response dental practices can use to address patient concerns. Dr. Levin also offers three signs that may signal patients are opting out of routine dental care due to this news.
Patterson Profiles: Mike Smurr | OSAP
Welcome back to Patterson Profiles, a new series where we sit down with a Patterson Dental VIP for an in-depth chat about their personal involvement with a philanthropic organization. These individuals pursue...
Clean Water ≠ Clean Waterlines: 2 Waterline Cleaning Solutions
On paper, the difference between clean water and clean waterlines may only be 5 letters. In reality, however, the divide is major. Knowing that there is a difference, why the...
Surface Disinfection: A Key Safety Priority
Safety must be at the forefront of each process in the delivery of oral health care. In order to ensure the safest dental visit for both workers and patients proper...
5 Steps to Becoming More Confident in Infection Control Management
Are you up-to-date on the latest guidelines and standards from CDC, OSAP, OSHA and your state government? Do you stay current with industry news and continuing education? Develop more confidence...
Ebola Resources For Your Practice
Over the past few months, we’ve all watched as the Ebola situation has continued to evolve, with the US encountering its first diagnosed case on September 30th. As we learn more...
Infection Control and Compliance Answers in Just One Place? Yes, Really!
“Which contact time do we follow for our disinfectant – there are three times listed?” “How do I get our students to comply with PPE?” “Do I have to wear...
Equipping your sterilization center
In a recent blog post, we discussed the importance of a well-designed sterilization center; once the ideal space is created, it’s important to have the right equipment. When choosing equipment,...
The nitty-gritty on sterilization advancements
Most dentists aim to exceed a patient’s expectations, and good ones do. Of all the expectations a patient might have, the one that is the most standard is the expectation...
The CDC’s Guide to Writing for Social Media
The Electronic Media Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a helpful guide to social media writing. This is a resource that is full of...