Infection Control Standards in Oral Surgery Practice
Posted on 4/15/2024 by Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery
Keeping surgery centers germ-free protects patients undergoing invasive dental procedures. Strict cleaning protocols shield vulnerable people from contamination risk around the delicate mouth area. Here, we will explore key protections oral surgery teams use to maximize your safety.
Staff Safeguards
To prevent germs from entering from outside, oral surgeons and assistants follow frequent hand washing/sanitizing rules paired with isolating gowns, masks, and gloves when handling materials between visits before proper disposal. Extensive COVID-era precautions now represent standard protocol.
Eliminating Germ Spread Between Patients
After each visit, staff thoroughly disinfect all areas having patient contact before the next person enters. Chairs, counters, equipment, and more undergo intensive Environmental Protection Agency-approved sanitization, removing 99.9 percent of microorganisms. This strict cleaning minimizes disease transmission chances.
Sterilizing Surgical Instruments
Tools contacting blood/tissues during procedures get thoroughly sonically cleaned after individual use to remove all debris before sealing for pressurized high-heat steam sterilization, which fully removes contamination. This ensures that a clean slate prevents infections.
Water Quality Monitoring
Since microbes quickly multiply in sinks/tubing, dental water systems run through special filters while getting tested regularly to catch any bacteria exceeding strict safety limits. Bottled water stands ready if results require supplementary action. Proactive checks are essential.
Vigilance Across All Fronts
Beyond clinical equipment, oral surgery teams also ensure detergents, hand care products, surface disinfectants, sterilization wraps, and air filtration systems meet regulated compatibility benchmarks. Likewise, staff training updates ensure the latest science permeates every precaution taken. Infection control requires 360-degree vision.
Verifying Safety Through Credible Certifications
Beyond meticulous daily disinfection controls, leading facilities also pursue rigorous third-party certifications validating adherence to clinical infection prevention program best practices. Such safety seals require extensive audits examining sterilization efficacy, environmental hygiene, hand hygiene conformance, and hazardous waste disposal, as well as emergency protocols. Certification re-testing occurs annually.
In summary, skilled oral surgery teams champion infection prevention through layered safeguards that limit pathogen exposure/transfer possibilities while upholding mandatory safety benchmarks. Our practice is happy to discuss our protocols with you for added assurance.
Keeping surgery centers germ-free protects patients undergoing invasive dental procedures. Strict cleaning protocols shield vulnerable people from contamination risk around the delicate mouth area. Here, we will explore key protections oral surgery teams use to maximize your safety. 