Sterilization and Infection Control

What is infection control?
Infection control is a set of recommended safety precautions that we implement to protect our patients and staff in the office. Strict infection control is required to prevent the spread of disease, since many dental procedures involve direct contact with blood and saliva. Improved infection control procedures with heightened awareness of the dangers of infection mean that the instruments and supplies we use in your mouth are steam autoclaved or they are disposable items intended for one-time use.

Do all dentists practice infection control?
In 1986, less than 30 percent of dentists wore gloves, masks or gowns. Today, these infection control tools are required in all dental practices. To fight the spread of diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), syphilis and herpes viruses, we have strict procedures and may use a variety of measures to ensure that instruments used during dental procedures are sterile. As an extra precaution, Dr. Alvarez and the entire staff are vaccinated for Hepatitis B, to prevent infection and then potentially passing it on to patients. Sterilizing dental instruments, a process that destroys all forms of microbial life, is of optimal importance in our dental office.

How else do we protect our patients?
When you first sit in the dental chair, chances are the first thing you'll see is Dr. Alvarez washing his hands. Hands are washed at the start of the day, before putting on gloves and after touching any potentially contaminated surface.

Dr. Alvarez may use a variety of protective items that are used once and then thrown away, including gloves, masks, paper drapes, suction/water tube tips and needles. Dr. Alvarez and his assistants can use different kinds of protective gloves. Latex or vinyl gloves are used for patient examinations and procedures and are worn whenever skin could be in contact with body fluids. Between patients, the gloves are thrown away, the hands washed and a new set of gloves is used to treat the next patient.

For cleaning and sterilizing instruments, heavy rubber utility gloves are used. If you are allergic to rubber or latex, we can wear nitrile gloves, which do not contain any latex rubber proteins.

What are universal precautions?
Universal precautions, used for every patient, are safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA). These precautions require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective wear, such as gloves, masks and eyewear. For more information on CDC Infection Control guidelines, please visit www.cdc.gov.

Does the office sterilize the handpiece (drill)/Laser and other instruments after each patient?
We sterilize handpieces and other instruments between patients to prevent the transmission of diseases. Our office follows and monitors specific heat sterilization procedures, which are outlined by the CDC and the ADA. Most dental instruments are sterilized in special machines; it takes much more than just soap and water to make sure instruments are free of bacteria. Recommended sterilization methods include placing these tools into an autoclave (steam under pressure), a dry heat oven, or chemical vapor (commonly called a chemiclave). This equiptment can be clearly seen as you walk into our treatment rooms. We routinely test our autoclaves to assure that they are in optimal working condition. Ask us to show you how and where instruments are sterilized. 

How are other objects sterilized?
Before you enter the examination room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, drawer handles and countertops are disinfected. To sterilize equipment that can't be moved, such as X-ray units and countertops, disinfectant is applied after each patient to ensure a germ-free environment. Sometimes we may drape this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient. Disposable sharp items such as needles that cannot be sterilized are disposed of in puncture-resistant biohazard containers. Anything contaminated with blood or saliva is disposed of in special containers with safety lids.