Cross infection is a risk in all dental practices, regardless of size, and managing it can appear daunting in a single-handed practice. However, a practice with well-trained, knowledgeable staff can maintain high standards of infection control
The EU Sharps Directive came about in response to the fact that needlestick injuries are one of the most serious health and safety threats for healthcare workers. So how does it affect dental nurses?
A dental practice may have hundreds of patients visiting it each week. Many of these patients will be carriers of pathogenic organisms. Blood-borne viruses are a major concern, but there are other types of viruses which can cause just as much harm
Dental practices should have good management systems in place to ensure they comply with regulations that govern how they store and dispose of waste. Not complying with regulations can result in prosecution, and harm to staff, patients, the public and the environment
Uniforms and personal protective equipment are a major part of your practice's and your own professional image, as well as for protecting patients and professionals. Dental care workers need to ensure they comply with health and safety regulations around their use
The Care Quality Commission inspects healthcare premises to ensure they meet its standards of quality and safety. Inspectors visit dental practices at short notice, talk to staff and patients, and ask some incisive questions about every aspect of how the practice is managed
This article outlines some of the more important testing and validation that should be carried out to ensure decontamination equipment is functioning properly, can conform to the required standards and that the required data can be properly recorded by dental teams
Surfaces and equipment used in the decontamination of dental instruments should be cleaned carefully before and after each decontamination process cycle. The procedure used should comply with written local policies. Julia Freeman, decontamination lead, discusses best practice in surface decontaminat
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting dental care professionals and patients, as well as complying with the law. As the Health Safety Executive explains, a risk assessment helps you focus on the risks that really matter in your dental practice—the ones with the potential to cause real
Hand hygiene is important for the protection of patients and dental nurses. However, during hand washing, hand soaps not only remove soils, but also the natural oils that protect the skin. As such, dental nurses need to understand the importance of following a good skin care regime
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is exactly what is says; it is designed to protect the person wearing it from outside pathogens/harm that can be picked up in the working environment. This article investigates PPE such as gloves, mask and protective eye wear used in dental practice
The Care Quality Commission inspects healthcare premises to ensure they meet its standards, particularly on the quality and safety of care. Debra Hackshaw describes what happened during an inspection of a specialist endodontist practice
Dental nurses have a responsibility and a duty of care for the proper management and disposal of clinical and hazardous waste within their practices. This article outlines best practice, in accordance with current guidance and legislation, on waste management in the dental setting
Doctors in Italy confirmed that a 82-year-old woman who died from Legionnaires’ disease in February contracted the infection from a dental practice. This serves as a timely reminder of a dental nurse's duties in complying with best practice guidance on controlling the risks from Legionella bacteria
