The dental profession has always taken precautions to prevent cross-infection. Indeed with new knowledge and better technology, the procedures to prevent infection have become even more stringent. So now, more than ever, the possibility of getting infected while undergoing dental treatment is minimized to the maximum and is practically NIL “If proper infection control is practiced in dental clinics”.

Infection controls and universal precautions protect clients and staff alike. Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control — you as a patient, your dentist, and the entire dental team. The cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust. You should feel free to discuss this topic with us and receive a straightforward clear answer.

We are a profession that should hold the safety of our patients in our hands. At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, we need to be at the extreme side of caution. The best defense in infection control is a good offense against germs; we need to be too safe.

What Is Cross Infection?
It is the transmission of diseases from one patient to another, or from the patient to the dentist, or vice-versa.

This is prevented by the routine practice of Universal Infection Control, so described because it is practiced for ALL patients who walk into the dental clinic. At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center we follow procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the  Clinic for Disease Control (CDC). These measures include procedures such as:

Sterilization
All equipment that has been used are thoroughly washed and then sterilized. Sterilization involves the use of heat, chemicals or radiation to destroy ALL germs.

The most common sterilizer used is the autoclave. At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center we use a Fractionated vacuum (2, 3 or 4 phases) – system B autoclave with an automated Process evaluation Control.

All instruments such as

• Tweezers, mouth mirrors, probes and numerous other hand instruments
• Burs (the small drill bits that do the cutting of the tooth)
• Trays on which the instruments are placed
• Surgical Aprons
• The modern dental handpiece (drill)

And many other instruments placed in the mouth would have been sterilized before your treatment.

The Use Of Disposables
At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center there are many items that are used only once and then thrown away. These include:

• Injection needles
• Anesthesia carpools with remnants of anesthesia material
• Saliva ejectors (suction tips)
• Scalpel blades
• Napkins
• Towels
• Cups ,,,,,, AND MANY OTHER ITEMS including dental instruments once recommended

Dental Handpieces (Drilling Machines)
Most dental clinics use high-speed air handpieces that are operated and controlled by the foot pedal. Coolant water is carried by separate tubing and is also discharged at the same time. The air is released from the top and bottom of the head as the turbine rotates. However, when the air pressure is released, the handpiece shuts down, creating a vacuum that can aspirate oral microorganisms, blood, saliva, and other debris into the turbine and dental unit waterlines. Accordingly, these should be flushed to discharge water and air for a minimum of 20 to 30 seconds after each patient to minimize the chances of transmitting bacteria from one patient’s mouth to another. If this is not done -which unfortunately is the case in most instances -, the saliva, blood and bacteria are transmitted from one patient’s mouth to the next.

At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, we use the most advanced electric handpieces that operate by the introduction of direct current. These motors do not use compressed air, and when the current driving the motor is stopped by releasing the foot pedal, the motor stops. Because there is no air to create a vacuum, there is little or no retraction of oral fluid back into the waterline or turbine—An Important Infection Control Factor.

Besides, At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, the design of these handpieces incorporates anti-retraction valves that will further prevent the retraction of oral fluids and debris, which could lead to contamination of the water lines or possible cross-contamination to subsequent patients. Additionally, the handpieces automatically regulated to induce two outward flushes.

This investment At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, was done to protect you and all our patients from all the risks they may encounter in other clinics that don’t pay attention to all visible and unnoticeable details of cross infection control.

Water Line Source
At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, all water being supplied to all instruments that are used in patients’ mouths such as drilling machines, teeth cleaning instruments (ultrasonic scalers), and water for mouth washing, are softened and filtered to improve water quality and maximally minimize  debris and possible contaminants.

Barriers
Dentists At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center routinely wears gloves, masks, goggles or face shields during treatment. These serve as protective barriers against the transmission of diseases. Gloves are disposed off after each patient.

Chemical Disinfectants
After every treatment, while the dentist is washing his / her hands with antiseptic soap, the nurse would ensure that the dental chair and table operatory surfaces and countertops which were used during the treatment are wiped with chemical disinfectants.

Disposal Of Waste
To further protect you and others in the society from accidental contamination, used objects such as needles, root canal instruments are considered as biohazardous and are collected in separate bins and disinfected or disposed of, separately from normal refuse.

The best defense against disease is information. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your health care and where to get it. The more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel. So have the freedom to ask about whatever you may think, and it’s our duty to answer you.