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Patient and Dental Personnel Protection

1-7

As we progress from emergency dental care to dental treatment, preventing the spread of infection and protecting all the personnel involved is imperative.

Before the patient’s appointment:

  • Communication and careful planning
  • Check the temperature of the patient before any procedures
  • Tele dentistry

At the dental appointment visit:

  • Standard precautions assume that every patient is potentially infectious.
  • Operatories should be isolated with barriers.
  • Training needs to be provided to all personnel as regards donning and doffing the PPE.
  • High-velocity evacuation and four-handed dentistry are mandatory when using aerosol-producing equipment.
  • All staff should wear masks, gloves, goggles, and face shields if coming within six feet of the patient.
  • Ideally, all PPE should be discarded for every patient or when it is visibly soiled.
  • Laundry service needs to be provided at the office if scrubs are worn.

Post-dental appointment:

  • All visible surfaces should be covered with disposable plastics and discarded after each patient appointment.
  • Dirty surfaces should be cleaned with soap water, before disinfection with approved disinfectants that meet EPAs criteria against SARS-COV2. The personnel responsible for this should follow proper hand hygiene and be required to use the entire PPE.
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The Foundation of Modern Dentistry

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