Quizzes & Puzzles1 min ago
Hygiene at the dentist's
15 Answers
Ok, so you're in the dentist's chair, with the bib, glasses etc on, + the dentist puts on a fresh pair of latex gloves and dives in. Then she takes her hand from your mouth, + adjusts the overhead light,...can you see where I'm heading with this? As far as I can tell, the handle on that light must be crawling with whatever bugs were in the previous patient's saliva. Or am I missing something here? Thanks.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.My dentist wraps a small piece of cling film around the light adjuster bar before he puts his gloves on, for every patient. I think you are right to be questioning this. Why don't you mention it to the receptionist next time you have an appointment it will give your dentist a chance to rectify her dirty habit without you actually confronting her.
I think that people can be a bit sqeamish about these things. Everyone either bites their nails, picks their nose, picks their teeth, licks their finger if something gets on it, handles dirty object etc etc. People touch things all the time. Everything I'm handling, from my keyboard, to my phone, the mug of tea I was brought, the calculator I've borrowed etc have all been touched by someone. And we all do the above things.
Dentists wash their hand between patients.
They change gloves between patients.
The dentist or dental assistant will use antiseptic/aseptic cleaning solutions on the surfaces including the handles of the light (as part of the cross infection control procedures).
Where possible the dentist and assitant will use the 'non touch' technique in an attempt to maintain asepsis.
Some dentists have plastic/barrier wrap around handles.
Instruments are debrided, cleaned and then sterilised and re-bagged.
Disposable instruments and equipment are thrown away.
Needles are not re-used.
Gloves are not re-used.
If you have any concerns then I would suggest taking them up with practice/clinic manager/prinicipal.
They change gloves between patients.
The dentist or dental assistant will use antiseptic/aseptic cleaning solutions on the surfaces including the handles of the light (as part of the cross infection control procedures).
Where possible the dentist and assitant will use the 'non touch' technique in an attempt to maintain asepsis.
Some dentists have plastic/barrier wrap around handles.
Instruments are debrided, cleaned and then sterilised and re-bagged.
Disposable instruments and equipment are thrown away.
Needles are not re-used.
Gloves are not re-used.
If you have any concerns then I would suggest taking them up with practice/clinic manager/prinicipal.