Chairside Assistance Flashcards
Where should the dental nurse be positioned
Their thigh adjacent to the shoulder of the patient and be angled inwards
How much higher should the dental nurse be than the operator
2-4 inches higher
Why should the dental nurse be seated higher than the dentist
It enables them to see over the head of the operator into the oral cavity
What hand do you use to pass imstruments
Left (if you are right handed)
Where should you pass -materials across
The transfer zone
What is the transfer zone
Across patient’s chest, beneath their chin
Why is it important to pass materials over the transfer zone
The patient will not be aware of the instruments required for the procedure and will therefore reduce anxiety
Who gains access to the oral cavity first
The nurse
This creates space by retracting the soft tissues for the operator
Where should an aspiration be held
Firmly where the tip joins the suction tubing
How do you insert the 3 in 1 tip
Unscrew the silver nut slightly and insert the tip firmly and then tighten the nut securely
Why should you always try the 3 in 1 syringe outside the patients mouth first
To ensure the tip is secure
How can soft tissues be retracted
They can be retracted with a dental mouth mirror, cheek retractor or a tongue depressor
The use of a finger to retract should be done with great care and nerves if a hand piece or scalpel are in use
How can the mirror be kept clean for the operator
Gently blowing air on the mirror and occasionally washing it with air and water
What is direct aspiration
It is adjacent to the tooth/teeth being treated
The aspiration is best placed slightly distal to the tooth/teeth to remove water/debris
What is indirect aspiration used
Useful if access for the aspiration is limited or the aspiration obscures the view of the operator
Where is the aspiration best positioned at the back of the oral cavity
Best positioned at the last standing tooth but occasionally you may need to move slightly further back if debris is gathering at the back of the tongue
Why should the dental nurse adjust the dental light accordingly
So the operator should never have to lift their head from the oral cavity
Why is it important to wipe filling materials from instruments
So it does not harden as this will result in problems during the sterilising process
Why should you not wipe scaling instruments
There is a high risk of sharps injury so to remove debris from scaling instruments you must use a narrow bone aspiration tip and suction debris away
What should the patient be wearing in the chair
Safety goggles and a bib whilst in the dental chair
When should you add water to the mouthwash
Not until patient is seated in chair
In what order is PPE worn
Perform hand hygiene Apron Mask Visor Gloves
Describe infection control procedures when the patient leaves the chair
Remove all sharps and place in sharps box
Remove all disposable items and place in the clinical waste
Put all contaminated instruments into the designated box with the red lip for dispatch to CCSD
All instrument checklists must be completed
All instruments which come with a plastic tag must be put in the box with this tag
Remove the contaminated gloves and replace
Use wipes to clean the environment
Place the contaminated wipes and your gloves in the clinical waste
Perform hand hygiene
What is the order of removal of PPE
Gloves Apron Goggles Mask Hand hygiene
