ADA Talks Infection Precautions

American Dental Association
Image: ada.org

For more than two and a half decades, Glenn J. Marie, DDS, has served patients through Dentistry for Children, located in Staten Island, New York. A respected member of the dental community, Glenn J. Marie, DDS, contributes to advances in the field and networks with his peers through membership in the American Dental Association.

Last August, the American Dental Association (ADA) released a statement informing the public of the ways in which dentists prevent the spread of infection and keep patients safe. All dental practitioners are required by law to adhere to guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which were recently updated in a document titled “CDC Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care.” This guidance spells out in great detail the things that dentists, technicians, and other staff must do to keep their offices sanitary.

Best practices include cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces in an examination room before a patient enters, or covering equipment with plastic and then replacing the plastic each time a new patient comes in. Disposable tools are discarded in safe containers after each use, and all non-disposable tools are cleaned and sterilized before they are used again. Through these practices and others, dentists commit daily to keeping their offices infection-free.