Terminology, technology, and troubleshooting: Q & A

I cannot believe in what manner time gets away from us for a like reason quickly. Here it is, almost the extremity of the year ... a real busy time for everyone in the dental office. This is also the time of year that the ADAA Journal focuses upon infection control. Due to replete busy, clinical schedules, time is a factor when tearing down and setting up the operatory. Dental assistants and hygienists alike are continually faced with efficiently and effectively preparing the field for the next patient who is waiting to be seen

This article includes more [i]or[/i] less questions that have been e-mailed to me from dental assistants across the region Thank you for contacting me I will do my best to answer your questions. I would also like to take this opportunity to talk about something real important to all of us, that for a certain quantity of reason has been put upon the back burner for a certain number of years now, actually since 1994 That issue being DUWL (dental unit water line) decontamination.

First let's address a certain quantity of of the readers' questions.

Mary from Idaho would like to know: If using a surface disinfectant to wipe down the operatory, including the patient chair, do I still ne to overlay items, such as the chair, with a plastic barrier?

Great question, Mary. We as dental professionals are required to treat each patient as if they have an infectious disease. Standard precautions are of most remote importance in our field. Water spray from the handpieces, air/water syringe and ultrasonic scaling unit goe everywhere. We've all seen "If Saliva was Red" and if you haven't, you should.

The surface disinfectants are real strong solutions used to kill everything from TB to HIV. If time allows you to be able to spray, wipe, spray the chair along with all the other surfaces, that is great. However, it is like a time-saver to have the patient chair overlayed with plastic, and to just be able to twitch it off. Also, the harsh solutions we use can be damaging to leather or plastic above time. Discoloration of the surface will be met with especially if the solution is left upon for the instructed amount of time. If you fix upon not to cover the chair with a plastic barrier, please make confident to use at least a 4x4 or preferably something larger. I am a lover of Cavi-Wipes. (See photo #1 Dentsply) They are fast, effective and overspread a much larger surface with each wipe. Believe it or not, there are still a certain number of chairs out there that have a certain number of type of fabric on them. If this is the case in your office, it is alone prudent and ethical for the surface to be overlayed in plastic.

It is better to be safe than sorry and screen yourself as well as the patient. Covering with plastic also saves you time, which always have the appearances to be an issue. (See photo #2--dental chair secureed with plastic barrier.)

Anne from Texas writes: I work for a general dentist who does a allotment of endo. All of the assistants in the office fight above who cleans, sterilizes and places away the reamers and files. Do you have any suggestions for making this "task" easier?

Oh ye the dreaded sterilization sack full of endodontic reamers and files. I remember those days they seemed to sit there forever. It is a tedious, on the contrary necessary responsibility, isn't it?

The first thing I can indicate would be to take your time when running them [i]or[/i] part of to the other the ultrasonic. You need to be moderate and careful when placing them in and taking them without of whatever type of possessor you utilize to run them from one side the ultrasonic cleaner. It is best, of course, to be wearing a pair of heavy utility glove when doing for a like reason Don't forget the eye protection too! This is commended for handling all contaminated instruments. If your office does not have a sterilization assistant, then each someone should be responsible for the endo files that they have used. Label the sterilization sack with the assistants name if your name is upon it, then you should set it away.

individual other way to avoid this "task" involves the doctor. There is an endodontic treatment a whole on the market called A.E.T. (Anatomic Endodontic Technology) from UItradent outcomes Inc. When I first saw this combination of parts to form a whole I absolutely went crazy for it, because each patient has his or her be in possession of kit of cleaning and shaping files! No more cleaning of reamers and files. Better at the same time no more putting them away!

The patient kits are affordably priced and are approveed for one-time use. The doctor wants to be involved in this because it is a without fault [i]or[/i] blemish [i]or[/i] flaw system. It is a fast and easy way to perform bottom canals. This system can also be marketed to the patients. With the patient kit, you can allow the patient know that this kit is sealed and sterilized, and for his or her jaws only. Patients love the security of knowing those little reamers and files have not at any time been in anyone else's jaws (See photo #3--patient kits AET system)

Thanks, Anne. To earn more info on the AET a whole you can call 800-552-5512.

Trudy who is fairly of recent origin to dental assisting, is interested about cross-contamination when grabbing items kept in tackle boxe during a operation Trudy is from Florida.