The use of PPE per CDC guidance is for a primary objective, which is to protect dental care professionals at Rivers Family Dentistry and patients from infection. The CDC guidelines cover selection and use of Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE to ensure safe practices when donning, using and removing PPE per CDC guidelines. This goal also improves patients’ safety. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, PPE is “specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against infectious materials.”
According to the CDC, donning of PPE should happen before meeting with the patient. The PPE is designed to protect both the dental professional and patient by restricting direct contact and contamination of inert surfaces around the dental office. The PPE is taken off and disposed of carefully. Respirators are removed outside the treatment room. Dentists will perform proper hand hygiene after removing PPE per CDC guidance.
Dental professionals wear gowns first before wearing masks or respirators. Then, they will wear protective eyewear or face shields, followed by gloves. The combination of PPE used has implications on the order of placement. It is vital to follow the protocol for PPE per CDC guidance.
There are two main physical sides of PPE – contaminated and clean. Contaminated sides are generally on the outside. This part of the PPE has or has possibly been in contact with materials, body sites or environmental surfaces that may have been inhabited by infectious organisms. Clean areas are typically inside, ties around the head or neck and back of the overalls.
The order of removing PPE per CDC guidance is gloves first, then protective eyewear and face shields. Gowns come off next, and finally, respirators or masks. PPE removal should occur close to the doorway of the treatment space, not outside. The only exclusion is respirators, which can be taken off outside of the treatment room, upon closing the door. Hand hygiene facilities should be ready immediately, which should include a sink with hand hygiene products or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
PPE usage is an essential aspect of standard infection control precautions. Standard precautions assume that saliva, bodily fluids and blood from any patient is infectious. The use of PPE per CDC guidance and other infection control protocols is important to prevent transmission in dental and medical settings. The nature of the interaction between patients and dental professionals determine the use of PPE. Ideally, any procedure that is likely to generate spatter, aerosols, fluids, secretions or excretions require the use of PPE per CDC guidance, including gloves, gowns, masks, protective eyewear or face shields.
Outer protective clothing protects against contamination, especially when there is a risk of skin or cloth contamination. The same situations that require masks, gloves, and protective eyewear also need protective clothing. Examples include smocks, lab coats, aprons, gowns and clinical jackets.
PPE clothing should be resistant to fluids but not necessarily fluid-proof. Protection and comfort are both important parts of PPE per CDC guidance. The aim is to cover most of the regular work clothes. The two basic types of protective clothing are disposable and reusable, which must be changed if visibly contaminated at the end of the day.
Request an appointment here: http://www.riversdentistry.com or call Rivers Family Dentistry at (979) 710-2216 for an appointment in our Bryan office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Implant dentists provide a teeth replacement option that closely resembles natural teeth. Whether a patient is missing one, many, or all of their teeth, dental implants look and function similarly to natural teeth with the added benefit of replacing tooth roots and stimulating the jawbone. This jawbone stimulation is a benefit other teeth replacement options…
Dental crowns play a central role in modern restorative dentistry, offering durable protection for damaged teeth while restoring natural function. Traditionally, getting a crown required multiple appointments and weeks of waiting. However, at Rivers Family Dentistry, we utilize the advanced glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution to provide high-quality, permanent crowns in just a single visit.Understanding our same-day…
Oral health plays a vital role in your overall well-being. Dental advancements have revolutionized dentistry and can replace missing or damaged teeth and restore smiles. Implant dentists provide patients with effective and long-lasting solutions for missing teeth. This blog post will discuss common treatment options offered by implant dentists.Dental implants are small titanium posts that…
Choosing a family dentist as your next dental provider is one of the best decisions you can make for every family member. However, there are multiple factors to take into account when asking questions. Here are a few potential questions to consider when searching for a family dentist.Most feel comfortable starting with questions about their…
Implant dentists provide a teeth replacement option that closely resembles natural teeth. Whether a patient is missing one, many, or all of their teeth, dental implants look and function similarly to natural teeth with the added benefit of replacing tooth roots and stimulating the jawbone. This jawbone stimulation is a benefit other teeth replacement options…
Dental crowns play a central role in modern restorative dentistry, offering durable protection for damaged teeth while restoring natural function. Traditionally, getting a crown required multiple appointments and weeks of waiting. However, at Rivers Family Dentistry, we utilize the advanced glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution to provide high-quality, permanent crowns in just a single visit.Understanding our same-day…