Most state dental boards require weekly spore testing. In addition to CDC's infection control recommendations include weekly sterilizer monitoring. Staying in compliance can be a challenge especially if staff skips a week due to vacations or even terminations. If the…
We have received calls in the past from dentists asking if they are required to pay for a sign-language interpreter for hearing-impaired patients. The short answer to the question is – it depends. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires dentists…
Do you know OSHA requires dental offices to have written OSHA safety plans in place that specify how various hazards in the office will be controlled to protect employees? Employers, including dental offices, must have these customized written plans onsite…
First check the manufacturer’s instruction manual for ultrasonic cleaner maintenance information and recommended testing frequency. If manufacturer’s information is not available, the aluminum foil test, recommended on a monthly basis, is a fast and simple method to check the cleaning…
The shelf life of sterilized packaged instruments can be either date-related or event-related; both are acceptable. Date-related shelf life refers to a first-in first-out policy, meaning that the items that are sterilized first are used first, so long as the…
The current edition of Costco Connection (June 2014) Costco Connection (June 2014) contains an article asking readers to provide their opinion to the long-standing debate of to fluoridate or not to fluoridate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and…
The Louisiana State Board of Dentistry recommends that their members follow the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health- Care Settings. In reference to sterilizer monitoring, the CDC guidelines state: “Monitor sterilizers at least weekly by using a biological…
While not explicitly prohibited by OSHA, carpet in dental operatories is highly discouraged, since both chemical spills and bloodborne pathogen contamination can occur during dental procedures. The bottom line is that carpeting is more difficult to keep clean and cannot…
OSHA requires employers to properly train their employees to do their jobs safely. The premise, for all employers in the United States, is to ensure that employees are trained on the hazards associated with their job, as well as on…
OSHA requires, at a minimum, dental offices to follow the concept of universal precautions to control occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs), while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the adherence to standard precautions. The term universal…
