LO 7

Question 1

What should you keep in mind about the saliva ejector?

Answer 1

1. Do not advise the client to close their lips around the ejector and spit into the tip.
2. Previously suctioned fluids may be retracted into the client’s mouth
3. Some disposable ejector tips now have a small hole in the side that relieves the pressure when the tip is closed off, preventing reverse flow.

Question 2

What 2 products can be used to reduce aerosols?

Answer 2

HVE or rubber dam

Question 3

What is a preprocedural rinse?

Answer 3

1. Helps reduce the amount of oral microorganisms - Reduce the amount within the mouth, reduces the amount of microorganisms escaping mouth through aerosols and splatter; Can reduce the level of oral microorganisms for up to 5 hours!
2. Useful before any dental procedure, it is most beneficial before a prophylaxis

Question 4

What are best practices during patient care to reduce microbial contamination in the environment

Answer 4

1. Use of antimicrobial mouth rinses prior to procedures with reduced microbial count in aerosols
2. Use air and water separately instead of together to minimize spray
3. Use a rubber cup instead of brush for polishing
4. Use air filtration systems
5. Use high volume suction
6. Use proper patient position

Question 5

How should you address Microbially-Soiled Prostheses and Impressions?

Answer 5

1. Prostheses and appliances cannot withstand standard heat sterilization procedures
2. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant having at least an intermediate level of activity before handling items in the lab (tuberculocidal claim)
3. Consult with manufacturers regarding the stability of certain materials relative to disinfection procedures
4. Wear PPE at all times when handling hazardous chemicals
5. Wear eye/face protection when using rotary or air blasting cleaning equipment
6. Have adequate ventilation when working in laboratories and handling hazardous chemicals

Question 6

Describe care of protheses

Answer 6

1. If some prostheses are heavily soiled, place them into zippered plastic bags containing ultrasonic detergent and then place the assembly into an ultrasonic cleaner; position the bag near the middle of the cleaning solution.
2. Only use air-powered blasters on cleaned and disinfected prostheses.
3. Prostheses can be returned to the patient in a deodorizing solution (mouth rinse) once they have been disinfected properly.
4. Prostheses should never be sent out or returned in disinfectant solutions

Question 7

Describe care of impressions

Answer 7

1. Impressions should be rinsed with tap water and shook off after removal from a client’s mouth for preliminary removal of microorganisms.
2. Rinsed impressions should be placed in zippered bags with appropriate disinfectant solution or sprayed and wrapped in paper towel; remove impression after 15 mins, rinse, shake and pour
3. Metal trays should be cleaned and heat sterilized.

Question 8

Describe care of intermediate restorations

Answer 8

1. Appliances such as crowns, splinted bridges and partial dentures should be disinfected before being returned to the laboratory for further work.
2. Each dental office should have specific instructions regarding proper disinfection technique when working on mouth appliances and when they are returned from outside laboratory sites.
3. The best location for disinfection procedures is chair side

Question 9

What are the 2 types of waste in a dental office?

Answer 9

1. Regulated medical waste
2. Non-regulated medical waste

Question 10

___________ refers to the total discarded solid waste generated by all sources within a given location

Answer 10

Hospital waste

Question 11

What are the reasons regulated medical waste may require special care?

Answer 11

1. Number of microorganisms
2. Virulence of microorganisms
3. Host resistance
4. Presence and availability of portals of entry

Question 12

Describe the types of regulated waste

Answer 12

1. Liquid/semi-liquid - blood and saliva
2. Contaminated items that would release blood or contaminated liquid if compressed - 2x2 cotton rolls
3. Items caked with blood or contaminated liquid - 2x2 cotton rolls
4. Contaminated sharps - used needles, scalpal blades, orthodontic wire, broken instruments, burs
5. Pathologic or microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) - biopsy specimens, excised tissue, extracted teeth

Question 13

Waste items that have had contact with blood or any body secretions are ____________

Answer 13

Contaminated wastes

Question 14

Wastes posing a risk or peril to human beings or the environment are ___________

Answer 14

Hazardous wastes

Question 15

Wastes capable of causing an infectious disease are ___________

Answer 15

Infectious wastes

Question 16

Any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment of immunization of human beings or animals in research pertaining thereto, or the production or testing of biologicals is called ___________

Answer 16

Medical wastes

Question 17

Infectious medical waste that requires special handling, neutralization and disposal are called ___________

Answer 17

Regulated wastes

Question 18

Wastes capable of having a poisonous effect are called ____________

Answer 18

Toxic wastes

Question 19

Describe pathogenic wastes

Answer 19

1. Considered teeth and other waste tissues
2. Their disposal is regulated
3. Always dispose into bio-hazardous waste bin where leakage is prevented
4. Extracted teeth may be placed in sharps container

Question 20

How should biopsy specimens be handled?

Answer 20

1. Place biopsy in sturdy, leakproof container
2. Avoid contaminating the outside of the container
3. Label with a biohazard symbol

Question 21

Describe sharps

Answer 21

1. Sharps: items that penetrate intact skin - Eg. Injection needles, orthodontic bands and wires, scalpel blades, burs, suture needles, instruments and broken glass
2. Capable of transmitting disease
3. Regulated medical waste

Question 22

Describe the disposal of sharps

Answer 22

1. Sharps must always be placed in a sharps container
2. Closable, leak proof, puncture resistant container
3. Must be labelled with biohazard symbol
4. Colour coded for easy identification
5. Located as close as possible to operator
6. Must be present in each operatory

Question 23

What are the 5 sets of activities that comprise the clinical asepsis protocol?

Answer 23

1. Before seating the patient
2. After seating the Patient
3. During patient treatment
4. After patient treatment
5. Radiographic Asepsis

Question 24

What aseptic activities take place during patient treatment?

Answer 24

1. Restrict spread of microorganisms from patient’s mouth.
2. Use high- volume evacuation.
3. Touch as few surfaces as possible with saliva-coated fingers.
4. Keep gloved hands out of hair, and do not rub eyes or bare skin or adjust mask or glasses.
5. Do not wear protective clothing out of the clinic; change protective clothing if obviously soiled.

Question 25

What aseptic activities take place after patient treatment?

Answer 25

1. Cleaning and sterilizing instruments
2. Anyone who will be cleaning contaminated instruments must wear heavy utility gloves, protective clothing, a mask, and a face shield or protective eyewear.

Question 26

Describe radiographic asepsis

Answer 26

1. Unit/patient preparation
2. The use of films within the FDA- cleared barrier pouches are recommended
3. The use of a plastic cup and paper towel should be used to help differentiate between the film that has and has not been exposed
4. The digital image allows the image to be seen on a computer monitor, no developing is required the image can be stored for future retrieval
5. Digital sensors are used over and over on multiple patients
6. Most of the digital sensors cannot be heat sterilized or chemically disinfected, to prevent contamination disposable plastic surface covers are used