Your dental health is important to us, but so is your safety while you’re in our office. That’s why we take all reasonable steps to protect you from infection and other hazards. We follow the infection control practices required by the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are just a few of the specific procedures we follow:
- All sterilizers in our practice are monitored for effectiveness and efficiency on a regular basis per State of Indiana regulations and guidelines to ensure our patients safety.
- Appropriate use of gloves, masks, gowns, and other protective barriers to prevent any possible spread of infection.
- Gloves are changed and hands are washed after each patient.
- Non-disposable instruments are heat sterilized after treatment of each patient.
- Disposable instruments, including needles and syringes, are discarded in puncture-resistant containers.
- Surfaces and equipment contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials are cleaned and disinfected after treatment of each patient. In some cases, disposable coverings are used on surfaces to prevent contamination.
- Potentially infectious waste is placed in containers labeled with the biohazard symbol, impervious to moisture and strong enough to prevent leakage.
- Containers of potentially infectious waste are stored in a secure area prior to treatment and final disposal.
- Our patient care staff receives full training on infection control.