How Dentists Keep Their Offices Free From Germs
Some people think dental offices are full of germs just waiting to pounce on hapless patients. They reason that this must be the case given that dentist treat all kinds of damaged teeth. However, you should know that dental instruments are completely safe because they are sanitized before and after use. Here are some of the common methods dentists use to keep their tools of trade safe:
Sterilizing Dental Instruments
Dentists use more than soap and water to keep instruments clean. They use different sterilization equipment, such as the autoclave, to ensure the instruments are free of germs. Sterilization takes different forms, such as:
- Dry heat
- Heated steam
- Sterilization chemicals (for materials that may be damaged by heat, such as plastic)
All these methods kill germs and prevent cross-infection in the dental office.
Using Designated Processing Areas
Dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized in a central processing area. The same room is used to store cleaning and sterilization equipment, as well as the dental instruments not currently in use. The designation of a special sterilization place is beneficial because it is easy to control and keep safe. It would be difficult to keep all the instruments clean and sterile if they were to be processed in different rooms whose cleanliness may not be guaranteed.
Sanitizing the Dental Chair
It's not just the instruments dentists keep clean; they also mind the sanitation of the dental chair and the surrounding areas. They use disinfectants to ensure you do not pick any germs left by previous patients. Your dentist may also use a barrier, such as a disposable sheet, between your body and the chair to reduce the risk of cross-infection.
Using Infection Transmission Barriers
If you are worried about contamination directly from your dentist, then you should rest assured that the dentist has thought of it and put effective preventive measures in place. Dentists use infection-transmission barriers to ensure they do not pass any germs they have to their patients. This includes wearing gloves, face masks, coats and other protective barriers.
In summary, it's not easy to get infected at the dentist's office. These are just four examples of methods dentist use to keep their patients from picking up germs during treatment. If you are still worried about this issue, talk to a dentist, such as those at Village Family Dental. Most dentists will be more than glad to explain to you how they prevent cross-infection in their practices.