Most of us are aware of the high U.S. standards for infection control and safety in health care. But in many parts of the world, gloves, sterile instruments, disposable needles, and safe water are not routine elements of dental practice. Furthermore, the standards for educating and licensing dental professionals vary widely.
In case of a dental emergency, knowing what to look for when seeking dental care in a foreign country can help a traveler avoid unnecessary risks.
Assessing infection control practices in the dental office
Once you have found a dental office, examine its level of compliance with basic infection control and safety standards. “Infection control” seeks to prevent the transmission of disease-causing organisms by:
- reducing their numbers (for example, through cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments or surfaces);
- preventing exposure by using barriers like gloves, masks, gowns, and protective eyewear, or by covering surfaces to keep them from becoming contaminated; or
- improving a person’s ability to resist disease causing agents through the use of vaccines and antibiotics.
Practicing universal precautions means that the dentist and staff wear a new pair of rubber or vinyl gloves for each patient and wear face masks and protective eyewear for all procedures that generate spatter or splash. It also means that all instruments used on patients are either disposed of or are properly cleaned, then disinfected or sterilized after use.
In the developed world, most dental offices apply the principles of universal precautions, which are based on the assumption that any patient could be infected with a bloodborne virus such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B and C viruses. As such, the highest standards of protection are always applied.
Basic hygiene remains important. Experts in medicine and dental infection control agree: Handwashing is the single most important element in preventing the spread of infection. Dentists and staff should always wash their hands immediately before donning gloves as well as immediately after removing them.
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