Enhancing infection control
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 22nd April 2022
Delivering excellent dental treatment, long-lasting results and successful outcomes are the desires of every clinician and their team. By minimising potential risks and complications, as well as aiding in the maintenance of oral health, clinicians are able to better protect their patients from dental issues.
Infection control is another way that clinicians can not only protect patients, but their team members too. Operating in a clean, hygienic environment allows the dental team to work to their highest potential, whilst patients can rest assured that their safety is of the highest priority.
Whilst following mandatory infection control requirements will keep the dental practice sterile and safe, clinicians may consider implementing additional practices that can accompany the infection control protocols already in place.
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is a simple, yet vastly integral part of preventing infection in the dental practice. Clinicians are required to follow the guidelines outlined in the HTM 01-05/ SDCEP documents, but there are recommended practices that can be employed to further enhance the essential hand-washing protocols.
These include having the hand-washing protocols displayed beside related facilities, which will encourage patients and the team to employ the proper hand-washing techniques for optimal hygiene.[i] Also, clinicians may consider having sensor-operated taps, which minimises any unnecessary contact with surfaces. Having a wall-mounted paper towel dispenser is another way to enhance the hand hygiene protocol; not only have they been shown to be more hygienic than air dryers,[ii] but they could prove more cost-effective for the practice. There are also many eco-friendly options available, for clinicians looking for greener alternatives. These additional infection control measures are perhaps the easiest to implement and are simple but effective ways to enhance the hand hygiene process.
Validation of decontamination equipment
To certify that all decontamination equipment is working at its best, they should be validated, tested, maintained and serviced to the manufacturers’ recommendation. Not only this, but daily, weekly and monthly maintenance is also required to ensure they are fully-functional and effective.
The CQC recommends the additional use of data loggers; not only do they provide better accuracy, predictability and higher-quality evidence of compliance, but are also more efficient for the team when compared to manual data logging. Similarly, storing data copy records on a computer provides a resourceful way to access information easily and save space in the dental practice.
Using instruments that are sufficiently sterile is crucial when keeping patients safe from disease and infection. Therefore, clinicians should consider investing in decontamination equipment that will prove its worth again and again, catering to their individual needs and requirements whilst working to the highest standards.
Take infection control further
With a wide range of decontamination equipment available on the market, choosing one that is suitable can be a challenge. W&H has designed the Lyla steriliser with the needs of the clinician in mind. The Lyla S Type steriliser has a smart upgradability feature using advanced Activation Codes that customise the equipment to suit your needs. The codes are multi-functional, and activate features such as traceability, remote data storage and an upgrade to a B-type steriliser. As you can use a combination of any of these codes depending on the features you require, this means that the Lyla steriliser cleverly adapts to the individual needs and requirements of the clinician, further facilitating the safety of your team and your patients. Alternatively, you can select a Lara B type Vacuum Sterilizer with unique upgrade flexibility.
Ensuring that the dental practice is following mandatory infection control protocols is vital. Choosing to invest in adaptable, versatile decontamination equipment is a smart way to further supplement these protocols, and prioritise the safety of your team and your patients.
To find out more visit www.wh.com/en_uk, call 01727 874990 or email
[i] Care Quality Commission. Dental mythbuster 9: hand hygiene. Available online. https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/dentists/dental-mythbuster-9-hand-hygiene. Accessed 23 Nov. 21.
[ii] US National Library of Medicine. The hygienic efficacy of different hand-drying methods: a review of the evidence. Available online. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538484/. Accessed 23 Nov. 21.
