Not only the patients but dental health care personnel are at great risk of getting infected from patients with organisms that can be spread by blood or other body fluids. Needles, other sharp objects, spatter, and aerosols can transmit various viral and life threatening infections including some respiratory disorders. Blood or saliva splashes to the eyes / nose / mouth occur frequently during dental treatment.
Maintenance of high standard measures of preventing infection is of utmost importance both for the patient as well as the operator to avoid cross-contamination.
Possible Hazards
Dental health care professionals are at risk for acquiring or transmitting:
- Bacterial infections like syphilis and tuberculosis.
- Life-threatening infections such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis B.
- Hepatitis C
- Influenza, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.
Mode of Transmission of Diseases
- Herpes simplex infection can be transmitted around the lips and conjunctivitis via contaminated hands of the operator.
- Contamination with droplets from the saliva of patient can cause tuberculosis.
- Direct blood contact by a needle/sharp instrument can transmit hepatitis viruses B, C, and D.
- Lesions on the operators hand.
- Via splashed material from patients mouth on operator’s face, especially the eyes may somewhat increase the risk of Hepatitis B and HIV.
- Unsterilized instruments can spread HBV and HIV.
- High-speed rotary instruments and ultrasonic scalers through droplets contaminated with microorganisms from the patients mouth and blood can lead to respiratory diseases via viruses and bacteria.
Prevention of Disease Transmission
- High-level disinfection/ sterilization protocol
- Use of surgical wear (gloves, gowns, masks, Protective eye wear)
- Safe injection practices
- Maintaining hand hygiene with neutral pH liquid soap or use alcoholic hand gels.
- Reusable or disposable gowns in case of HIV, HBV. Otherwise when laboratory coats, or uniforms are worn, they may be washed, using a normal laundry cycle.
- Aluminum foil, or clear plastic wrap may be used to cover surfaces (e.g., light handles or x-ray unit heads) that are otherwise difficult or impossible to disinfect.
- Disinfectant protocols for impressions, instruments, prostheses.
- The tubes of aspirators and saliva ejectors should be flushed with sodium hypochlorite, 0.1% regularly.
- Safety from prick from sharp instruments.
- Operating room, chair can be cleaned with 70% alcohol or with 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol.
- Vaccination against Hepatitis B, Neisseria meningitis, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis.
Obtaining Medical History from Patient
A thorough medical history is extremely important for patient may not always show sign of a disease. It alerts the clinician to medical problems that could, in conjunction with dental treatment, adversely affect the patient.
Mandatory Blood/Saliva test before any Surgical Procedure
An oral healthcare professional must recognize signs and symptoms in the patient because sometimes patient may shy away or may lie about its health history. It is mandatory for the operator to ask the patient to get his/her blood or other necessary diagnostic test is done for evaluating any possibility of blood-borne and other infectious diseases.
Disposal of Waste Materials
Dental waste is disposed of according to requirements established by local or state environmental regulatory agencies and published recommendations.
Simple precautions like wsshing of hands using surgical soap and/or an antiseptic hand-wash, drying hands with a single use disposable paper towel, using protective clothing and eyewear, maintaining sterilization protocols, avoiding needle prick injuries can decrease chances of transient micro-organisms which are capable of transmitting disease.
