A visit to the dentist should never compromise your health. Worrying about germs is the last thing you want during a dental appointment. That is why we take dental infection control very seriously. We work hard to ensure our office is clean, our instruments are sterile, and that our practices won’t leave you with the sniffles or worse.
The Importance of Dental Infection Control
During your twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings, your dentist and hygienist have to get up close and personal. Dental plaque is not the only thing that harbors bacteria, germs, and other microorganisms. These little microscopic buggers live everywhere—on your skin, on your tongue, and in your spit.
Germs, bacteria, and other microorganisms that can make you sick are often spread through cross-contamination. This can look like a sneeze settling on a counter, which another patient then touches or the same unwashed tools or hands going into different mouths. This can spread nasty germs and make you sick.
Five Ways We Keep You Safe in Our Office
1: We wipe down, clean, and disinfect.
Surfaces like counters are one of the most common places for cross-contamination. This is why we wipe all surfaces between clients. This includes places like the chair, the moveable light, and even the paper towel dispenser.
2: We use an autoclave to sterilize instruments.
We sterilize our dental equipment inside an autoclave. This machine uses a mixture of steam, heat, and pressure to kill all the microorganisms on an item it sterilizes. Any dental tools or items that were used inside someone’s mouth are always either sterilized or thrown away.
3: We use disposable items where we can.
We use disposable items like sterile gloves, paper towels, etc., to eliminate the possibility of contamination as much as possible.
4: We have cleaning procedures for all parts of our practice, not just the customer-facing areas.
Cleaning at a dental office should never be limited to the places where clients spend time. That is why our whole office has a cleaning plan and hygienic practices—it eliminates the possibility that your technician will bring germs in with them from the breakroom.
5: We check various recommendations on new or better cleaning practices.
In the same way we keep up-to-date with new and groundbreaking dental techniques, we also keep up with the latest cleaning recommendations. We monitor all the latest CDC recommendations and more to ensure your safety.
Dental Care That Is Squeaky-Clean
A good dentist will have practices in place that ensure you stay healthy during your visit. Here at Country Club Dental, we go above and beyond. We want to be transparent about our commitment to the health of not just your mouth, but your whole self. Contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Whitney or Dr. Weedman and witness for yourself our commitment to a clean environment.
Images used under creative commons licence – commercial use (2/26/24). Photo by Anton on Unsplash.
