Infection Control practices in Dentistry - Research Paper Example

 Infection Control practices in Dentistry The advent of technology and innovation has also led to better changes and modifications in the field of science and medicine. Not only the methods of working have been improved but they have also become more protective and safer than before. Dentistry is one such field which has adopted modified methods and is moving towards more advancement continuously. This paper will discuss the field of dentistry in medicine and the infection control practices that have been introduced within it. Dentistry Dentistry is one of the most important and widely studied disciplines in medicine. It refers to the study, examination, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders, conditions, and diseases related to the oral cavity. This pertains to teeth in particular, along with the conditions present in the face and jaws (maxillofacial) area to some extent. Though the field of dentistry is also related to the cosmesis, but it is usually considered entirely as a branch of medicine. In order to stay healthy in every aspect, dentistry is considered significantly important (Suddick; Harris, 1990). A dental team carried out the dental treatment, and it usually comprises of dental auxiliaries (dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental assistants, and dental technicians) and a dentists. Majority of the dentists render their services in primary care or private practices, along with some others working in secondary care (hospitals), and other institutions such as armed forces bases, prison etc. The history of dentistry dates back to 7000 BC when it was practiced in the Indus Valley Civilization. Thus, dentistry is thought to be equally ancient as the history of civilization and humanity is. Slovenia was the place that showed the evidence of the earliest dental filling, formed from the beeswax more than 6500 years back. Then, in the 17th century, the Edwin Smith Papyrus wrote a manuscript, which reflected those written in 3000 BC detailing the treatment of various dental diseases. The Code of Hammurabi had referenced twice the dental extraction relating it to the punishment. The science of advanced dentistry finally took roots and developed between the years 1650 and 1800 by Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon, who also got popular as the "father of modern dentistry" (Gelbier, Stanley, 2005). The National Health Service (NHS) in the united Kingdom has priority patients that comprises of patients undergoing or facial trauma, congenital abnormalities (like hypodontia and cleft palates), and many others that are receiving treatment for cancer in the neck and head areas. They are being treated in collaboration with other hospitals in a multidisciplinary team approach for dental specialties such as maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics. The category of private patients also includes people having infections (either necrotic or third molars teeth) or avulsed permanent teeth, along with patients having a history of smokeless or smoking tobacco with ulcers in the oral cavity. Dental Infections A dental infection, known as dentoalveolar abscess, tooth abscess or root abscess, refers to the collection of pus connected with teeth locally. Periapical abscess is the most general and commonly occurring type of abscess, followed by the commonly occurring periodontal abscess. A dental abscess pertains to a kind of odontogenic infection, and is generally termed for the infection that usually spreads around the causative tooth in the external area of local region. On the other hand, the periapical abscess pertains to the condition in which the source is a bacterial infection which gathers in the dead, soft, deep pulp inside the tooth. The reason for this condition may be broken tooth, tooth decay, a prolonged periodontal disease, or a blend of these factors taking place simultaneously. A similar abscess may also be created by a failed treatment for root canal. Signs and Symptoms The major signs and symptoms of a dental abscess include the constant pain which may be defined as growing, extreme, shooting, sharp, or throbbing. Extreme pain is induced if warmth or pressure is put on the tooth. Besides this, the gum, base of the tooth, or cheek may be swelled, the condition that might possibly be reduced through application of ice packs. On the other hand, an acute abscess may not show any signs or feeling of pain yet it may present swelled gum. In various other cases, local facial swelling might be created by the perforation of bone by a tooth abscess and the drainage into the tissues surrounding it. In some conditions, there is a likelihood of the lymph glands present in the neck of being tender and swollen as a result of the infection causing the feeling of a migraine in response to the transfer of pain from the areas that are infected. Such a paid only transfers downwards or upwards normally and not across the face as there are separate nerves that that serve both the sides of face (Neville, Brad, 1995). Moreover, a fairly common sign is the severe discomfort and aching on face at both sides and surrounding area of tooth infection along with the tooth becoming intolerable to touch for the presence of excruciating pain. Infection Control Practices One of the most important parts of safety patient care includes the prevention and control of infection. There exist different concerns regarding the potential spread of diseases that are blood-borne, along with the effects of highly contagious, emerging respiratory illnesses that demand the medical experts and practitioners to formulate, assess, update, monitor, and supervise the infection control and prevention protocols and strategies on a regular basis. The dentists are charged with the obligation of creating and maintaining the proper standards of profession and its practice and, in accordance with them, are required to guarantee that they carry out the suggested infection control and prevention methods within their offices during the practice. There are three primary elements that contribute to the spread of infections. They include the susceptible host, causative agent, and mode of transmission. By removing these three elements, the possibilities of the occurrence of an infection decline to the least. This is the foundation principle that formulates the grounds for the acceptable strategy of infection control and prevention. The transmission of micro-organism, through direct indirect, or droplet way, be avoided in order to prevent the patients from becoming prone to viruses, bacteria and other microbes that might help in infecting or colonizing the respiratory tract or oral cavity. It is recommended that the rescheduling of patients, who are apparently ill, should be undertaken in order to protect them from the spread of infections or micro-organisms. In case they have been classified as urgent in terms of their dental condition, the practitioner should make all efforts to treat them separately from other patients. This can be done by seating them in a secluded operatory immediately (ADA, 2012). This can minimize the spread of micro-organisms largely through droplet or direct transmission. The dental appointments should be confirmed in advance for screening of the sick patients. If a particular patient is found to be suffering from cough or fever, rescheduling of dental appointments is essential. The routine practices for the infection prone patients should be undertaken. A risk assessment needs to be performed prior to the interaction with patients every time so that the interventions needed to control and prevent the infection transmission may be determined. The methods requiring the exposure to body fluids, blood, mucous membranes, other types of secretions and non-intact skin should be performed using the suitable personal protective equipment. The procedures demanding no potential exposure, on the other hand, are likely to need fewer precautions and lesser restrictions. In order to prevent the patient from transmission of micro-organism, it is essential that the practitioners adopt the practice of hand hygiene, which is the only contributing measure towards avoiding the transmission of micro-organisms. Hand washing has replaced the term “hand hygiene” and constitutes using the antimicrobial or plain soap along with alcohol-based hand rub with running water. The medical facilities should have the provision of liquid soap in disposable pump dispensers. The use of bar soap is not recommended for the surgeons. Hand lotion should also be made easily available for the prevention of cracked or dry skin in the disposable pump dispensers. In order to avoid the possible spread of contamination, when the disposable pump dispensers are empty and not refilled of the liquid products they should be discarded (ADA, 2014). The dental headpieces, water/air syringes, and ultrasonic instruments create large particle droplets of saliva, water, micro-organisms, blood and other type of debris. The particular spray used in the procedure travels just a small distance before settling out, and lands on the surfaces nearby, which include the operatory equipments and countertops, along with patient. Therefore, it is recommended that patients are provided proper measures such as protective eyewear for protecting their eyes from debris and spatter that is formed in the course of dental procedures. This eyewear and other such protection should be worn all through the dental operational and appointment, and then, they should be disinfected and cleaned when apparently contaminated and subsequent to the use. It is possible that the dental patients prone to latex allergy might respond to the usage of general dental products, including rubber dams, gloves, orthodontic elastics, prophylaxis cups, and numerous other medication vials. The patients should be questioned regarding the chances of latex allergy as a part of the process involving medical history taking. In this manner, the practitioner can obtain information if the patient has been diagnosed with the latex allergy before. In order to protect further infections and allergies, it is essential that additional questions are asked in terms of the previous record of any commonly occurring predisposing conditions in with regards to the latex allergy, and various early exposure to latex relevant to the medical treatment (such as urogentital anomalies, spinabifida), or other allergies (for instance, kiwis, avocados, bananas, hazelnuts). The treatment of latex allergy prone patients should be performed in an environment in which either airborne or direct contact with latex proteins is kept to such a degree which is reasonably achievable (ADA, 2012). Besides this, all the devices or materials containing latex are recommended to be isolated, sufficiently covered or removed from the nearby surrounding of patients. Additional practices such as using gloves, gowns, and masks as the protective barriers physically separating the colonized or infected patients from other individuals plays a vital role in limiting or preventing the transmission of the infectious microbes or other agents. In the ambulatory setting, including dental office, the practitioners are required to adopt additional precautionary measures especially for the patients that are suspected of suffering from the infection which is may be conveyed with the help of large respiratory droplets. The examples of these infections include micro-organisms that may be transmitted in this form including rubella, respiratory tract viruses, Bordetella pertussis and mumps. Thus, dental hygienic is essential to be maintained in the dental offices operatory area and ambulatory settings. There are chances that the allergy prone patients are being treated nearby, or others not having any such allergies might also contract from the patients that are ill. Therefore, in order to avoid the possibility of the occurrence of infection or contamination, the dental/oral care practices should be carried out through hygienic guidelines. References ADA. (2012). ADA Guidelines for Infection Control. Australian Dental Association Inc. Accessed online. Retreieved on April 17, 2014 ADA. (2014). Statement on Infection Control in Dentistry. American Dental Association. Accessed online. Retreieved on April 17, 2014 Gelbier, Stanley (2005).125 Years of Developments in Dentistry. British Dental Journal Volume 19: 470–473. Neville, Brad W. (1995). Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. (1st Ed.). Saunders. pp. 104–5 Suddick, R.P.; Harris, N.O. (1990). Historical perspectives of oral biology: a series. Critical reviews in oral biology and medicine: an official publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists. Volume 1(2): 135–51. Read More