2. What could the busy dental hygienist do to prevent the crusting of debris on these periodontal instruments if she is not able to process them immediately? If instruments cannot be cleaned immediately, the instruments may be soaked in a container or sprayed with
a detergent or an enzymatic cleaner to make subsequent cleaning easier and less time consuming. The quick and simple step of spraying or soaking will keep instruments moist until clinical personnel can properly process them.
CASE SCENARIO #2
Cecilia, age 5, was scheduled for a routine dental prophylaxis and was accompanied by her mother into the dental hygiene operatory. Before beginning the procedure, Emily, the hygienist, offered Cecilia a pair of sunglasses to wear. Emily noted that the glare from the operatory light might be too bright and wearing sunglasses would make the procedure more comfortable. During the appointment, Cecilia mentioned that the glasses were uncomfortable, and she proceeded to take them off. Emily looked to the mother for guidance. Cecilia’s mother agreed that if Cecilia were more comfortable without the glasses, it was okay with her to remove them. Points to Consider: 1. Are sunglasses acceptable PPE for patient wear? Patients may perceive the glare from the overhead light to be bothersome and yes, sunglasses may provide some relief. Other, better, options for glare relief include technological advancements in lighting. Many hygienists now wear loupes for their practice. Loupe manufacturers often provide a head lamp that helps the dental professional focus the light into the oral cavity without causing the patient any discomfort from the bright light. In addition, overhead lights are now technologically advanced and incorporate LED illumination. One advantage of LED lighting is that the light pattern produced minimizes (or eliminates) the amount of glare in the patient’s eyes. Protective eyewear for the patient should be considered for protection from accidentally dropped instruments, chemical Conclusion The dental hygienist is largely responsible for infection control in their operatory, including wearing personal protective equipment, performing hand hygiene, instrument processing, and surface disinfection, surface barriers, waterline maintenance, and dental radiology. The hygienist must be conscientious, knowledgeable, and compliant with current infection control guidelines and regulations. To minimize disease transmission, the dental hygienist and other dental healthcare personnel should understand basic infection- control principles contained in the benchmark CDC document, Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, CDC Guidelines for Infection Control Website: http://www.ada.org/2613.aspx ● Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Website: http://www.apic.org ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website: http://www.cdc.gov Website: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/ guidelines/index.htm ○ Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings – 2003 Website: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf References ADA Center for Professional Success. (2020a). Eye safety in the dental office . American Dental Association. https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/eye-safety-in- the-dental-office ADA Center for Professional Success. (2020b). Hand hygiene for the dental team . American Dental Association. https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/dental-practice- success/dps-spring-2020/ hand-hygiene-for-the-dental-team Resources ● American Dental Association Professional Resources: Oral Health Topics American Dental Association. (2017). American Dental Association statement on infection control in dental settings . https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2017- archives/august/statement-on-infection- control
splashes, and other foreign-object injuries during dental (and hygiene) procedures. Adequate eyewear that gives the best protection is large enough to adequately cover the eyes and provide side protection. Reusable and single-use protective eyewear is available in various sizes to protect both clinicians and patients. 2. Is it mandatory that patients wear protective eyewear during patient care? CDC recommends that patients wear protective eyewear in the dental setting during all procedures in which splashing or spattering of bodily fluids is anticipated. Regular prescription glasses are not a substitute for protective eyewear that has side shields. Protective eyewear also protects the eyes from accidental injuries from sharp instruments and projectiles of tooth particles or remnants of dental restorations. Although this wording does not indicate that protective eyewear is mandatory, and OSHA does not mandate that patients wear protective eyewear, it is considered a best practice (ADA Center for Professional Success, 2020a). In addition, the American Dental Association (ADA) Statement on Infection Control in Dental Settings states that “All practicing dentists, dental team members and dental laboratories are required to use standard precautions as described in the CDC’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings ” (ADA, 2017). 2003 , and the most recent CDC publication, Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care . Knowledge of and compliance with CDC recommendations and pertinent regulatory agencies can minimize the risk of disease transmission in the dental healthcare setting. As a valuable member of the dental team, the dental hygienist must recognize that team effort, commitment, ongoing vigilance, and routine program evaluation are imperative for effective infection control in the dental healthcare setting. ○ Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care Website: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/ infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care.pdf ○ Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings Website: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/86043 ● Occupational Safety and Health Administration Website: http://www.osha.gov ● Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures Website: http://www.osap.org ● Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Website: http://www.shea-online.org End of Page American Dental Association. (2019, March 20). Oral health topics: Dental unit waterlines . https://www.ada. org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/dental-unit-waterlines American Dental Association. (2020a). ADA recommending dentists postpone elective procedures . https:// www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/march/ada- recommending-dentists-postpone- elective-procedures American Dental Association. (2020b). Oral health topics: Infection control and sterilization . https://www. ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/infection-control-resources Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. (2017). Break the chain of infection . http://professionals.site.apic.org/10-ways-to-protect-patients/break-the-chain-of- infection/
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