Sterile Irrigants Required During Oral Surgery – Dental Infection Control

In California, the Dental Board of California (DBC) Infection Control Regulation states that “sterile coolants/irrigants shall be used for surgical procedures involving soft tissue or bone. Sterile coolants/irrigants must be delivered using a sterile delivery system.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sterile solutions, either sterile saline or sterile water, should be used during oral surgical treatments where a greater potential exists for entry of biological agents into the vascular system and/or other normally sterile areas of the mouth. Some examples of oral surgical procedures include biopsy, periodontal surgery, and teeth extractions. Additionally, the water delivery devices, including tubing, must be sterilized between patients, or used once and then discarded.

For our OSHA Review Subscribers, the DBC Infection Control Regulation can be found in your OSHA Review Poster Set on Poster 13B.

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a registered dental continuing education provider in the state of California, specializing in Dental Practice Act, infection control, and OSHA training.