Dental Assistant Cross-Contamination

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Infection Control is importance to the dental assistant. This is so the dental assistant can prevent and stop diseases from spreading. The dental assistant can do this by sterilization, disinfection, PPE, barriers, and knowing the chain of infection. All of this known as preventing cross-contaminating. Cross- contamination is contaminating patients with infectious materials such as blood and saliva, and through touching disinfected instruments with infected blood or saliva on them. The dental assistant would listen to recommendations and regulations of the dental office from the dentist. The dentist would recommend that the dental assistant use cavi wipes instead of a intermediate level disinfectant to clean an operator after a patient. Also, the …show more content…
Some are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Body Substance Isolation (BSI). The Environmental Protection Agency controls sterilization and disinfection. Both are used by the dental assistant. The dental assistant uses sterilization using an autoclave. An autoclave kills bacterial spores. Instruments are put in an autoclave to sterilize so the next patient doesn't get sick or diseases. An dental assistant uses disinfection with an ultrasonic. The ultrasonic cleans and removes debris such as blood and saliva. The ultrasonic uses sound waves to do this. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration gives regulations to protect employees and employers. Also, the body substance isolation controls PPE and barriers. PPE is personal protective equipment. PPE includes scrubs,goggles, and gloves. The scrubs must be high neck, and cuffed wrists. Barriers are barrier tape also know as cover film. Cover film is put on light switches and drawer handles. This is because while in patient care the assistant might need to go to a drawer. The cover film prevents