Dental Office Infection Control Folsom CA

Sterilization Techniques

Infection controls and universal precautions protect clients and staff alike. Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control — you, your dentist, and the dental team. The cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust. You should feel free to discuss this topic with Dr. Jensen and receive a straightforward answer.

Dr. Jensen and our entire team follow procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These measures include:

• Disinfectant hand soap
• Gloves and face masks
• Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces
• Sterilization of all equipment before every use
• Disposable materials

We sterilize all reusable equipment, including dental hand pieces. We use an autoclave, a device that kills bacteria and viruses by steam, heat and pressure. We use Class B Sterilization units in our office. They can sterilize solid, hollow, and porous instruments, whether they are wrapped or unwrapped. Pressurized steam is an effective sterilizing agent provided that the internal air has first been removed from the chamber. Residual air prevents direct contact between steam and the load to be sterilized. Hence our Class B Sterilizers involve the use of active (forced) air removal by using an built-in vacuum pump. Our Class-B sterilizers create a vacuum, thus removing air from the load prior to the chamber being pressurized with steam. This can be done from one to three times. This technique allows faster and more effective steam penetration throughout the entire instrument load than the gravity displacement technique typically employed in sterilizers.

The best defense against disease is information. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your health care. The more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel.