Never let uncertainty about safety keep you away from getting dental treatment done in India, or cause anxiety while you’re here, because your and our health is too important. With the advent and spread of so many diseases the need for infection control has never been greater.
We as health professionals are more susceptible to contact infectious diseases while working on our patients.
We as consumers or normal “non-dentist” citizens, often don’t realize that Dentistry involved saliva and blood and therefore Sterilization and Hygiene are of utmost important.
Therefore we at Dr Bansal’s Dental Club Clinic follow stringent measures of sterilization and disinfection for everyone’s safety. These are used for each and every patient to prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus, Hepaitis and other infectious diseases. You can be assured that at Dr Bansal’s Dental Club Clinic, we meet or exceed all standards for infection control as set forth by ADA (American Dental Association) and IDA (Indian Dental Association). We regularly undergo training to insure that our infection control skills and knowledge is fresh and up to date in India and world to offer the best possible dental tourism experience to our patients..
We have always considered Sterilization of our instruments & disinfection of our equipment as the most important factor in our “Success Story”.
- Comments like “Doctor, the clinic is as clean as or even better than the dental clinic, I visited in USA, Canada & Europe” have only cemented our faith in maintaining high standards of sterilization & disinfection in our Centre.
- We have invested heavily in equipment & people to maintain the standards of sterilization.
- Our dentists and dental-team members (dental hygienist and assistant) wash their hands and put on a fresh pair of gloves before starting treatment. New disposable gloves are used whenever we enter the operatory
- A glass bead sterilizer is used for disinfecting the root canal instruments.
- A drum autoclave is used for sterilizing the cotton & surgical drapes.
- All our impression trays, extraction forceps are also packed individually in sterile packs.
- Disposable supplies such as masks, wipes, paper drapes, suction/water tube tips, needles and scalpel blades, are used only once and then disposed of properly. Using disposable items is another way that dentists maintain a clean and safe office.
- All surfaces are either covered with disposable plastic or disinfected prior to each patient’s use Disposable gloves are worn while treating patients and never used more than once.
- All needles and syringes used in our Centre are disposable & for single use only. The glasses used for rinsing are disposable too.
- We have introduced individualized sterile packs that contain examination instruments, gauze, cotton balls and suction devices (photograph).
- Our patients are reassured when a new pack of supplies is opened in front of them prior to treatment.
- After each patient, the dental unit & surrounding areas are cleaned & disinfected properly before reuse.
- All instruments, including handpieces, are sterilized after each use and sealed . Instruments are first scrubbed clean to remove debris and then they’re sterilized in a steam autoclave or in a heat-pressurized oven. Instruments that cannot withstand such high temperatures are scrubbed clean, rinsed and then soaked in a disinfectant for a specific amount of time.
- The used instruments are moved to a specific cleaning room for processing. After soaking, ultrasonic cleaning, scrubbing, washing & drying, the instruments are segregated & packed into individual pouches for autoclaving purpose
- Our sterilization equipment is regularly checked to insure its effectiveness in killing all pathogenic organisms
- Surgical scrubs or over-garments are worn (we do not wear scrubs out of the office)
- All hazardous material is clearly labeled
- Bio-hazardous waste material is separately stored and removed from the facility
The decontamination of reusable dental instruments includes:
1.Cleaning
2.Thermal disinfection
3.Rinsing
4.Drying
5.Inspection for dryness, functionality and cleanliness
6.Wrapping before sterilization
7.Sterilization
Sterlization FAQ
- What are the Universal Precautions in Infection Control
- Do you sterilize the instruments including the handpiece (drill) after each patient?
- How do you sterilize the instruments?
- What Is AUTOCLAVING?
- How do you clean and disinfect the examining room, and how often is this done?
- Are there other safety guidelines that dentists must follow?
- What are the things to look for?
What are the Universal Precautions in Infection Control?
Universal precautions are safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association. They are used for each and every patient to prevent the transmission of the AIDS, Hepatitis and other infectious diseases. These precautions require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective garb such as gloves, and sometimes masks and eyewear. After each patient visit, the gloves are discarded, hands are washed and a new pair of gloves is used for the next patient.
Do you sterilize the instruments including the handpiece (drill) after each patient?
According to a recent study in the journal of the American Dental Association, virtually all dentists sterilize their handpiece (drill) between patients. Dental offices follow specific heat sterilization procedures which are outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association. Disposable items, such as needles and saliva ejectors, cannot be sterilized and are discarded in special containers.
How do you sterilize the instruments?
Dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized at very high temperatures after each time they are used on a patient. Recommended sterilization methods include: an autoclave (steam under pressure), a dry heat oven, or chemical vapor (commonly called a chemiclave). The sterilization equipment usually is not in the treatment room. Root Canal instruments are sterilised in Glass bead. Impression trays undergo Chemical Sterlisation.
What Is AUTOCLAVING
When water is heated in a sealed vessel (such as an autoclave), it is possible to increase the boiling point . When the temperature reaches approximately 90° C, extensive evaporation takes place. Water vapor, being a gas by nature, creates excessive pressure within the vessel. As vapor pressure in the vessel reaches the value that corresponds to the temperature, evaporation ceases. Thereby, not all water turns into vapor. The higher the temperature, the higher is the pressure of the vapor. The heat generated under pressure is called latent heat and has more penetrative power to squeeze through bacteria and even their dormant, heat-resistant form — the spores.
A medical autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilise equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria , viruses , fungi , and spores are inactivated. Autoclaves work by allowing steam to enter, then maintaining pressure at 103 kPa (15 psi ). This causes the steam to reach 121 ° C , and this is maintained for at least 15 minutes.
How do you clean and disinfect the examining room, and how often is this done?
Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and countertops have been cleaned and decontaminated. Some offices may cover this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient. Sharp items and anything contaminated with blood or saliva are disposed of in special containers.
Are there other safety guidelines that dentists must follow?
Yes. OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has specific regulations that protect employees from injury and illness in the work place. While the primary purpose of the regulations is to safeguard employees, these procedures also protect the patient. For example, gloves provide protection for both you and the dental team.
What are the things to look for?
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- Is the dental office clean and orderly?
- Is the dental staff helpful and willing to answer your questions?
- Do the dentist and staff wear gloves and other appropriate
protective gear during all actual patient treatment? - Are needles and other sharp items disposed of in special puncture-resistant containers?
- Is everything that is used in the patient’s mouth either heat sterilized or disposable?
If you have any questions about our infection control methods, please do not hesitate to ask us.
Contact us for an appointment and rest assured that every available means to protect you from cross infection is being utilized.