l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Patient to be given hand sanitizer
upon entering the office
Patient should wear a mask until procedure
begins
All staff members must continue
adherence to standard precautions
but must also implement Transmission-Based
Precautions using an N95
mask or equivalent for all DHCP
exposed to aerosols
Face-shields should be used
Fluid resistant lab gowns must
be worn
Scrub cap or bouffant cap must
be worn
Shoe covers should be worn
Follow proper protocol for donning
and doffing PPE
DHCP remains in the room once
procedure has begun
Schedule to allow extra time for disinfection
and operatory preparation
Cavitron, Prophy Jet and Piezo procedures
to be suspended until further
notice
All patients must rinse with a hydrogen
peroxide-based mouthwash prior
to treatment for 30 seconds (Peroxyl
or Listerine Whitening are good
choices)
Reduce aerosols by using additional
suction devices, (recommendations
are Isolite, Releaf, & Dry Shield for
intraoral and ADS Extraoral Suction
device for extraoral), reduce water
output on handpieces, and do not
use air and water together on
air/water syringes
After procedure, disinfect air with
Lysol and use surface disinfectants for
maximum kill time
Take off all PPE before leaving
the operatory
Wash hands immediately
Utilize safe and practical protocols for
laundering clinical attire (it is ideal to
have an onsite washer/dryer for use)
l
No clinic attire is to be worn
outside the office to avoid
cross-contamination
If you follow these recommendations for
implementing the new protocols that are
now required in the dental setting, it
should help in obtaining office compliance.
It is important to have everyone in
the office trained and committed to the
observance of the directives to reduce the
possibility of exposure and cross contamination.
By having a meeting ahead of
time and reviewing the expectations,
everyone will have the information they
need to keep themselves and their
patients safe.
Kayce Hollingsworth, BS, EFDA, RDA is the owner of Dental
OSHA Compliance Services, LLC and has been teaching Infection
Control, OSHA and State Board Requirements for the past 18 years.
She previously lectured through Baylor College of Dentistry giving
the State Board Dental Assistant Registration Course, the Nitrous
Oxide Course, OSHA and other continuing education courses. She
has her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Communications
from Northeastern University and is currently working on her
Masters in Corporate and Organizational Communications from
Northeastern University. She is also a Territory Manager and Sales
Mentor at Shofu Dental Corporation and has over 25 years of clinical and practical experience as
an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant. She is both an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant certified
through the University of Florida Dental School and a Registered Dental Assistant in the state
of Texas. For more information, send email to: [email protected] or visit www.dentalosha.net.
FREE PRACTICE
VALUATION
Know the value of your practice
(469) 222-3200 | ADStexas.com
Jeremy Brown JD, Joe Piazza DDS, Terry Watson DDS, & Frank Brown JD
Practice Sales & Appraisals
www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 19