This document discusses infection control in dentistry. It defines infection and modes of transmission. The main risks of exposure in a dental operatory are through aerosols, droplets, spatter and contact with contaminated surfaces. Proper infection control procedures include categorizing tasks based on risk, following an exposure control plan, using personal protective barriers like gloves, masks and protective eyewear, safe handling of sharp instruments, and sterilizing or disinfecting all instruments. Critical and semi-critical dental instruments must be sterilized using an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer to eliminate all microorganisms.

1. INFECTION CONTROL IN
DENTISTRY
PRESENTED BY: SHUBHRA BARDHAR (JAIPUR DENTAL COLLEGE)
FINAL YEAR - BDS

2. CONTENTS
*INFECTION
 DEFINITION
 MODES OF TRANSMISSION
 EXPOSURE RISK IN DENTAL OPERATORY
 CHAIN OF INFECTION
 COMMON INFECTION CONCERN IN DENTISTRY
*INFECTION CONTROL IN DENTISTRY
 CATEGORIES OF TASK IN RELATION TO RISK
 EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN BY OSHA
 PERSONAL BARRIER TECHNIQUE FOR INFECTION CONTROL
 USE AND CARE OF SHARP INSTRUMENTS
 STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION
 CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS ON RISK OF TRANSMITTING INFECTION

3. INFECTION
The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such
as bacteria, viruses and parasites that are not normally
present within the body.
 MODES OF TRANSMISSION
*DIRECT CONTACT-with blood and any body fluids.
*INDIRECT CONTACT- with contaminated instruments or
surface contact of mucosa of the eyes, nose and mouth
with droplets or spatter.
*INHALATION- of airborne micro-organisms.

4. EXPOSURE RISK IN DENTAL
OPERATORY
 AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION
Through aerosol, droplets and spatter
 HAND TO SURFACE CONTAMINATION
With saliva contaminated hands the dentist could repeatedly contact or handle
unprotected operatory surfaces during treatment if not careful
 CROSS INFECTION
The transmission of infectious agent between patients and staff within a clinical
environment
 PATIENTS VULNERABILITY
Dentist to patient transmission of infection
 PERSONAL VULNERABILITY/ DENTIST VULNERABILITY
When dentist experience exposure to saliva ,blood, injury from sharp instruments
while treating patients, they are vulnerable to infections if they have not had
proper immunization and protective barrier’s

5. CHAIN OF INFECTION

6. COMMON INFECTION CONCERN
IN DENTISTRY
TRANSMITTED BY
INHALATION
*VARICELLA VIRUS
-Measles and Mumps
*RHINO/ADENO VIRUS
-Common Cold
*MYOBACTERIUM
-Tuberculosis
*CANDIDA SPECIES
-Candidiasis
TRANSMITTED BY
INOCULATION
*HEPATITIS B,C,
-Hepatitis
* HERPES SIMPLEX
-Herpes
* HIV
- AIDS
*TREPONEMA PALLIDUM
- Syphilis

7. COMMON INFECTIOUS AGENT
PRESENT IN ORAL CAVITY
 Streptococcus mutans
 Streptococcus sobrinus
 Lacto bacilli
 Actinomyces species
Contributes in dental carries and other oral
infections.

8. INFECTION CONTROL IN DENTISTRY
 Also called “Exposure Control Plan” by OSHA is a
required office program that is designed to protect
personnel against risk of exposure to infection

9. CATEGORIES OF TASK IN RELATION
TO RISK
*AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION-OCCUPATION SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT
Guidelines advise that all under category I and II be trained in infection control to protect
themselves and their patients.

10. EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN BY OSHA
 Use of universal precaution
 Required use of personal protective equipment
 Laundry of contaminated protective clothing
 Policy on general waste disposal
 Standardized hand washing protocol
 Hepatitis B virus vaccination
 Post exposure evaluation and medical follow up

11. STANDARDIZED HAND WASHING
PROTOCOL

12. PERSONAL BARRIER TECHNIQUE
FOR INFECTION CONTROL
*WASHING AND CARE OF HANDS
 DHCWs should wash their hands before and after
treating each patient
 For routine dental examination procedures -
 The purpose of surgical hand antisepsis is to eliminate
transient flora and reduce resident flora to prevent
introduction of organisms in the operative wound if loves
become punctured or torn
 Hand cleansers are also available such as chlorhexidine
based, povidine iodine, alcohol hand rubs etc

13. *GLOVES
For protection of personal and patients in dental care
setting , medical gloves (latex or vinyl) always must be
worn – when their is potential for contacting blood,
blood contaminated saliva or mucous membrane
 Non sterile gloves – appropriate for examination and non
surgical procedures
 Sterile gloves – used for surgical procedures

14. *GOWNS
REUSABLE
 Reusable protective clothing should be washed using a
normal laundry cycle.
 It should be changed daily
DISPOSABLE
 Should be disposed after single use.
REUSABLE DISPOSABLE

15.  *MASKS/ PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR
 Plastic face shields or surgical mask and protective eye
wear should be worn when splashing or spattering of
blood or other body fluid is likely common in dentistry
 Mask should be changed for every patient eye wear
should be cleaned with cleaning agents

16. USE AND CARE OF SHARP
INSTRUMENTS
 Sharp items (needles, scalpel,blades,wires) contaminated
with patients blood and saliva should be considered as
potentially infective and handled with care to prevent
injuries
 Used disposable syringes and needles ,scalpel blades and
other sharp items should be placed in appropriate
puncture resistant containers
PUNCTURE RESISTANT CONTAINER

17. STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION
 STERILIZATION- use of a physical or chemical
procedure to destroy all micro-organisms
including resistant bacterial spores
 DISINFECTION-destruction of all pathogenic
micro-organisms by physical or chemical
means except bacterial spores or inanimate
objects

18. CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS ON
RISK OF TRANSMITTING INFECTION

19. All critical and semi critical dental instruments that are
heat stable should be sterilized by common methods like
 AUTOCLAVE – Reliable and rapid method ,all living
organisms are destroyed at 121 degree Celsius
temperature and 15 IBS pressure -15 minutes
 DRY HEAT STERILIZER/ HOT AIR OVEN
*320 degree F - Exposure time- 60 to 120 minutes.
*375 degree F - 6 minutes for wrapped instruments
- 12 minutes for unwrapped instruments

20. AUTOCLAVE HOT AIR OVEN

21. REFERENCE
• Essentials of public health dentistry (fifth edition)
by – Soben Peter
• www.mouthhealthy.org/infection-control
• wikipedia