Keeping Teeth Safe: Disease Control and Patient Safety in Dentistry

What Is Keeping Safe at the Dentist?

Going to the dentist should be safe. Dentists must stop germs from making you sick. Dentists use many tools to keep you safe.

Did you know? 44% of dental offices do not follow all the rules to keep tools clean. This is not good!

When dentists keep things clean, 30% fewer people get sick from going to the dentist. Clean dentists help keep you well!

Ways Dentists Keep You Safe

Clean Tools

Dentists must clean their tools. They use a hot box called an autoclave. This hot box kills all the germs.

Dentists must check their hot boxes with tests. The tests show if the hot box works right.

Things dentists do:

• Wash tools
• Put tools in the hot box
• Check if germs are gone
• Use new tools for each person

Clean Water

The water in the dental chair must be clean. Dirty water can make you sick!

In 2016, some people got very sick from dirty water at a dentist in Italy. The water had bad germs.

Dentists must:

• Clean water lines
• Test water
• Use special tablets to kill germs
• Fix water lines that have biofilm (icky germ homes)

Safe Shots and Sharp Things

Dentists use needles and sharp tools. They must be very careful.

1 in 10 dental workers gets hurt by needles each year. Ouch! This can spread germs.

Ways to stay safe:

• Use safety needles
• Put sharp things in special boxes
• Wear thick gloves
• Never put caps back on needles

Keeping the Air Clean

When dentists work on teeth, tiny drops fly in the air. These drops can have germs.

Dentists use big suction tools to catch these drops. They also use air filters.

Some dentists use special masks that block very tiny germs. These are called N95 masks.

Keeping Surfaces Clean

Dentists must clean all the surfaces you touch. This means the chair, the light, and the spit bowl.

40% of dental offices don’t clean surfaces right between patients. This is not good!

Dentists should:

• Use spray cleaners that kill germs
• Put covers on things they touch
• Clean between each person
• Have a checklist for cleaning

Safe Plans for Patients

Before You Go

Dentists should ask about your health. They need to know:

• If you are allergic to things
• What medicines you take
• If you have heart problems
• If you need special medicine before treatment

During Your Visit

Dentists should:

• Use clean gloves for each person
• Clean your mouth before work
• Keep track of all tools
• Watch for any problems

When dentists use checklists, they make 50% fewer mistakes. Checklists help keep you safe!

After Your Visit

Dentists should:

• Tell you how to care for your mouth
• Write down what they did
• Call to check on you if you had big work done
• Report any bad things that happen

Special Rules for Special Tools

X-Ray Machines

X-ray machines take pictures of your teeth. These machines use special light.

Dentists must:

• Put a heavy apron on you
• Stand behind a wall
• Check the machine works right
• Not take too many pictures

Dental Drills

Dental drills must be very clean. In 2019, the FDA found that some dirty drills made people sick.

Dentists must:

• Take drills apart
• Clean all the small parts
• Run clean water through them
• Use the hot box on them

When Things Go Wrong

Sometimes things go wrong at the dentist. This can cost a lot of money. The average cost when a nerve gets hurt is $250,000.

Dentists should:

• Say sorry if they make a mistake
• Fix the problem
• Write down what happened
• Learn from mistakes

Big Problems That Can Happen

The Dental Patient Safety Foundation found 12,000+ bad events since 2018. These include:

• Pulling the wrong tooth
• Leaving tools in the mouth
• Giving too much medicine
• Burns or cuts

Teaching Dental Workers

Many dental schools don’t teach enough about safety. In fact, 68% of dental schools don’t teach well about reporting problems.

All dental workers need to learn:

• How to clean right
• What to do in an emergency
• How to use custom safety mouth guards
• How to stop cross-contamination

Laws and Rules

Dentists must follow many rules. These come from:

• CDC: Rules about cleaning and germs
• OSHA: Rules about worker safety
• FDA: Rules about tools and medicine
• State Dental Boards: Rules about dentist jobs

Every year, dentists must:

• Take classes on bloodborne pathogens
• Update their emergency kits
• Check all their safety gear
• Test their sterilization machines

New Ways to Keep Safe

Dentists are finding new ways to keep you safe:

• UV-C light to kill germs in the air
• Digital records to prevent mistakes
• Single-use devices that get thrown away
• Better face shields and masks

Best Dentist Offices

The best dentist offices:

• Have a safety officer
• Use checklists for everything
• Train staff often
• Test their cleaning methods
• Keep good dental materials

What You Can Do

You can help stay safe at the dentist:

• Ask if tools are clean
• Tell the dentist all your health problems
• Speak up if something feels wrong
• Wash hands before and after
• Ask about infection control

Summary

Keeping safe at the dentist is very important. Dentists must:

• Keep all tools and surfaces clean
• Follow all safety rules
• Use the right gear to stop germs
• Know what to do if something goes wrong

When dentists do these things, you can feel safe in the chair!

Key Facts Table