Infection & Control

The purpose of infection control is to reduce the occurrence of infectious diseases. Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility as is providing a clean and safe environment in which to treat patients.

Essential Infection Control Requirements in a Dental Surgery

Keeping up to date with new guidance and legislation in infection prevention and control highlights the key role the dental nurse will play in the infection prevention and control in the surgery and decontamination areas.

Effective hand decontamination with washing or gelling of hands is essential before and after removal of personal protective wear, and on entering or leaving surgeries and decontamination areas. Colleagues should be encouraged in good hand hygiene regimes.

Ensure that nails are short and polish free to avoid bacteria underneath. Stoned jewellery should be removed. False nails should not be worn.

To prevent transmitting bacteria, uniforms should be changed daily and protected with disposable aprons in all procedures where there is a risk of splashes or aerosols.

Wearing the correct PPE and giving protective eye and clothing protection to patients will prevent possible aerosol contamination from high speed turbines and ultrasonic cleaners.

Nurses should wear heavy duty rubber gloves when handling contaminated instrument to protect them from a sharps injury.

Surface disinfection is paramount to reduce transmission of infection within the surgery setting.

This includes wiping down work tops dental chair, and equipment after each episode of patient care. Surfaces should be free of free of visible dirt before disinfecting.

Maintaining a good environment within the surgery will make decontamination more effective.