Medical offices are breeding grounds for bacteria. Everyone knows that the easiest way to get sick is with a visit to the doctor or dentist. That’s why you want to be sure you go to a dental office that takes steps to prevent cross contamination. Our dental office in Tijuana does all we can to reduce the spread of germs.
Bacteria can cause many infectious diseases that are usually spread through saliva and blood. That’s why it’s important that anyone in a medical setting take extra precautions to limit the amount of cross-contamination among patients and healthcare workers. Some might say this is especially challenging in a dental office. This is because dentists and hygienists are in close contact with the inside of patient’s mouths.
What are the potential dangers of cross-contamination in a dental office?
Some types of diseases spread from bacteria are relatively harmless, like periodontal disease. But others are a little more dangerous, like HIV and hepatitis, which are blood-borne viruses. Respiratory viruses like the common cold, staph, and tuberculosis can also become quite a problem. They are especially dangerous for immune-compromised patients like young children or elderly patients.
You can learn more about the dangers of dental cross-contamination by clicking here.
How does our Tijuana dental office reduce the risk of cross-contamination?
The kinds of diseases that lurk in the office range from being mild to sometimes deadly. It’s thus clearly important for both dental staff and patients to take every measure in preventing the spread of bacteria. There are many effective ways that dentists, hygienists, office staff, and patients can reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases.
Here are some of the ways that we prevent the spread of germs at our dental office in Tijuana:
Wearing protective equipment.
Our dentists and hygienists always wear single-use gloves, protective face covers, and eyewear anytime we are working on a patient.
Being mindful of sharp objects.
Our team carefully stores sharp objects when they are not in use. When they are in use, we dispose of them very carefully to reduce the risk of infecting patients or staff.
Sterilizing and disinfecting dental tools.
We thoroughly sanitize and disinfect all of our dental tools after using them on a patient and before using them on the next patient.
Having a proper surgery protocol.
We perform all surgical procedures in a designated space that offers convenient cleanup, proper ventilation, and separate clean and dirty sections.
Maintaining water lines.
Our dental staff drains the water systems every day to stop the buildup of biofilms. This preserves the cleanliness of the water that we use for rinsing and cleansing our patients’ mouths.
Properly disposing of waste.
Our dentist and hygienists properly dispose of all human tissue, bodily fluids, and any swabs or dressings used to touch those things. We also label the waste “biohazardous material” so that it remains separate from regular waste.
Keeping clean surfaces.
Our dental staff constantly wipes down all areas in the office, including those in the reception area.
Staying up-to-date on immunizations.
It’s important for dental staff to stay current with immunizations for diseases like Hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Obtaining accurate records of all patients will also help to prevent any harmful exposures.
Following these 8 steps will go a long way in limiting the amount of cross contamination that occurs in a dental office. That’s why we are very mindful of enforcing these policies in our Tijuana dental office. We are committed to protecting your health.
