All professionals in the field of dentistry are required to follow certain health and safety procedures. Even a slight negligence could heighten the risk of unnecessary harm inflicted to patients. As an example, dentists and nurses may not spend enough time to examine patients’ records or consult patients before starting a treatment. They may also make illegible prescriptions of drugs or may not handle clinical instruments properly. Any of these incidents could lead to unintentional pain and suffering for your patients and additional stress on your staff and clinic.

By being aware and implementing some basic health and safety components, dental clinics will ensure the safety and well-being of their patients:

Develop A Culture Of Safety- dentistry professionals must have adequate knowledge of safety and integrate it into their daily practice. They must be encouraged to report issues and participate in discussions to resolve any issues that may arise.

Check Patients’ Clinical Records- some patients may have allergies to β-lactam antibiotics or latex gloves. Anticoagulated patients may also have major bleeding after a dental treatment procedure. Dentists and nurses must always review medical history of their patients before performing any procedures.

Clean, Disinfect And Sterilise Properly- risks of transmissible disease are quite high during dental care. Professionals must be trained in and supervised during the disinfection, cleaning, and sterilisation of dental care instruments.

Proper Prescription Of Medications- adverse reactions could happen due to improper prescriptions of drugs. Dentists must adhere to safe practices by performing dual control before prescribing any medication. They need to review the clinical records of patients and ask patients about allergic reactions to specific medications.

Limit Exposure To Ionising Radiation- dentists should avoid prescribing the use of radiographs, except when there’s a clinical suspicion of a pathology. This restriction should be tighter on children. Pregnancy or potential pregnancy among staff and patients is also an important consideration when dealing with ionising radiation.

Protection Against Eye Injuries- during dental procedures, it is important to protect patients properly. Goggles could provide adequate ocular protection during a procedure. It’s possible that fragments or substances could jump to a patient’s eyes.

Create And Follow Checklists On Procedures- checklists are valuable in any dental treatment procedures to prevent any unwanted or adverse events. Dentists need to make a list of items in degree of importance and use it for making checklists.

Monitor For The Possibility Of Infection- the risk of infection after an oral procedure is always present. Patients should be encouraged to return if they continue to experience pain and discomfort. Properly prescribed medications can help to prevent infection and patients must perform daily routines to maintain oral hygiene.

Contact Dentac

     To learn more interesting essential health and safety components in dental clinics, contact Dentac today and speak with a knowledgeable dental academy representative who can assist you and answer any questions you might have.

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