2018 Buyers Guide

YOUR ROLL IN INFECTION CONTROL

Dental assistants are responsible for some of the most important tasks in a dental office. They keep the office running smoothly, sterilize instruments, setup and manage appointments, getting rooms ready for patients and the list goes on and on. As ones who keep the office humming along and love their work with helping patients, Dental Assistants might not be aware nor fully cognizant of the risks of exposure incidence. Incidence and the associated risks are serious and pose serious health issues with potential infection of HIV, hepatitis B, C and D along with other diseases. This article focuses on the association implications and insights on what can be done to manage and minimize risk of infection. Infection control is a key responsibility for Dental Assistants in that according to DANB’s latest Dental Assistant Survey, 81% of dental assistants who hold DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification are responsible for infection control-related tasks making it first in the list of Top 5 Duties CDA Certificants Perform (http://danbcertified.org/): 1. Infection control – 81% 2. Lab functions – 70% 3. Order dental supplies – 63% 4. Expanded functions – 58% 5. In-office training – 41% The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and its affiliate, the DALE Foundation, are dedicated to public protection and know that dental assistants play an important role in patient safety, in addition to their own safety. While there is a chance for an infection, prior research shows that the risk of infection is low. One study published by the American Dental Association shows this is as low as 0.3%. While this is relatively low, it is not zero. “It`s more than just HIV,” says Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP, associate professor at Forsythe School for Dental Hygiene. “There`s hepatitis B,

C, D, and many other diseases. You`re still at risk. There is still that 0.3 percent chance of HIV.” There are actually three modes of transmission that are of concern which are the following: 1. From the healthcare providers to the patient. 2. From patient to patient. 3. From the environment, especially from water sources, to the patient.

Dental patients and dental healthcare providers can be exposed to bacteria and viruses, dental patients and dental healthcare providers can be exposed to bacteria and viruses, including influenza, HIV, hepatitis B and C, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex, tuberculosis, staphylococci, and streptococci, as well as a myriad of other

bacteria and viruses that inhabit the mouth. These bacteria and viruses can be transmitted to the patient through direct contact with blood or oral fluids, indirect contact with contaminated objects, or inhalation of microorganisms that can remain suspended in the air for prolonged periods of time. The careful use of standard precautions is instrumental in preventing the transfer of these microorganisms. (Source: Ensure Best Practices for Infection Control in Your Dental Office, Dentistry Today.com, August 25, 2017). OSHA is a regulatory agency that ensures workplace safety with enforcement capability, allowing its representative to investigate and impose fines. Two OSHA standards that dental offices must comply with are: the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). Table 1 below describes the required elements of each standard:

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