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Dear Patient,
My staff and I take it as a compliment that so very few questions
are asked about what we do for you and how we do it! Nevertheless
here are some answers to the questions you never asked.
Cross Infection Control - Why, What and How
Cross infection control is medical jargon for techniques to
ensure that germs (bacteria and viruses) are not spread from
patient to patient or staff to patient (and indeed patient to
staff). Effectively this is about making sure everything we
use in your mouth is clean - either by sterilization or when
this is not possible by the use of simple disposable equipment.
We ensure the sterility of materials
By individually mixing for each patient, any surplus is thrown
away. No materials (i.e.) fillings, impressions, temporary crowns,
local anaesthetic etc.are re-used.
We ensure the sterility of needles
By use of pre-sterilized disposable needles.
We ensure the sterility of instruments
By autoclaving (i.e.) processing in superheated steam, any
instruments with any possibility of being contaminated by blood
or saliva. This includes all our hand instruments, all burs
(the things that shape fillings) and even the high speed handpieces
and scalers that may be contaminated by water splash.
We ensure the sterility of polishing brushes
By providing each of you with your own brush. This is sealed
in plastic and kept with your record card. We do this because
I discovered many years ago that all forms of sterilization
of brushes are either inadequate or ruin the brushes. So far
as I know this procedure is unique to this practice.
We ensure the sterility of cotton wool, tissues and saliva
ejectors (All the things that keep your mouth dry)
By using disposable products.
We ensure the sterility of our hands
By using disposable gloves.
Is this not all very difficult and expensive?
Yes. A faulty autoclave would mean we would have to
close the surgery - to ensure that every instruments is sterile,
every cycle is checked with a chemical marking strip. In case
of breakdown we always use two autoclaves in series.
Yes. The delicate turbine bearings in handpieces are
damaged by autoclaving-this has cost a great deal over the last
7 years. We have recently invested in the very latest handpieces
(over £1500-00 worth)
Yes. British made stainless steel burs rust and are
rendered useless by autoclaving-we buy very expensive West German
tungsten burs. Yes. All this requires extra time in cleaning
and sterilizing. We have taken on an extra member of staff to
cope.
Yes. There is additional expense. Because it was my
opinion that many of the techniques required were unaffordable
under the N. H. S. fee scale this was the first practice in
East Cumbria to withdraw non-exempt groups from the N. H. S.
Fixed fee scales determined by this government do not encourage
the pursuit of ever-higher standards! This is of course my personal
view
What next?
Cross infection control is a changing process as new materials,
equipment and techniques are constantly evolving. Currently
we are testing two kinds of sealed polythene covers for handles
and tubing that have just appeared on the market.
And what about the environment?
We even think about that! We are unfortunately using ever-increasing
numbers of disposable plastic materials, non of which are recyclable
due to contamination. These are incinerated by a commercial
concern. We use recycled paper products whenever possible and
do not use bibs routinely- simply to cut down on the use of
paper products. The use of autoclaves and disposables minimises
the use of chemical cleaning and subsequent disposal problems.
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