Clinical Foundations - Week 8 PP

Question 1

Bacteria in the biofilm are up to 1500 times more resistant to chemical germicides than are planktonic (free-floating) bacteria - true or false?

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Planktonic

Answer 2

Free-floating

Question 3

Biolfilm

Answer 3

attached to the walls of DUWLs

Question 4

Chemicals used to combat biofilm

Answer 4

-“Shock” treatment - very strong chemical that could possibly stay in water line over a couple of days - then to be sufficiently flushed
- Daily or weekly chemical treatment
-Always check with the manufacturer of the dental equipment
-Monitoring water quality will be ongoing

Question 5

Minimizing Aerosol

Answer 5

Problem - highspeed handpiece, ultrasonic scaler, air-water syringe - risk of spreading aerosols

Solution - high-volume suction, air purifier
-PPE
-N95 or level 2-3 mask
-Gown, Bouffant
-Face Shield

Question 6

Infection Control and Dental Unit Water

Answer 6

Surgery involving the exposure of bone
Only use sterile water from special sterile water - delivery systems or hand irrigation with sterile water in a sterile disposable syringe

Question 7

Waterline safety

Answer 7

-Water bottle delivery
-Water quality test
-Dental traps
-Line flushing and purging

Question 8

Mrs. Smith has come in for her 3.4 MOD filling
appointment, and tells you that she has just
seen a special report on TV about
contaminated water in dental offices. She
asks you how safe the water is in your dental
clinic?
◦ Explain to Mrs. Smith the steps you take routinely
to ensure all the waterlines used during her
appointment are safe. If you do not have city water
in your operatory, how do you ensure quality water
control?

Answer 8

• Purged at the beginning for 2 mins
• flushed at the beginning of day for 2 mins
• All above waterlines are purged and flushed for 20 secs after each patient

Question 9

Operative suction tips & surgical tips - reusable or disposable?

Answer 9

Disposable - single use

Question 10

Other Evacuation Systems

Answer 10

• Mister Thirsty
  -Purevac HVE system - Mirror suction

Question 11

Backflow, tissue trauma

Answer 11

-Backflow occurs when the pressure in the patient’s mouth is less than that in the evacuator

• this backflow is a potential source of cross-contamination
• do NOT seal lips

Question 12

Rinsing the Oral Cavity

Answer 12

Maintains clear operating field for the dentist and keeps the patient comfortable

• limited rinse
  -full mouth rinse
  -HVE and air/water syringe
  -Low volume suction & air water syringe

Question 13

Is it possible to eliminate bioflilm completey?

Answer 13

No - we reduce significantly though