Handpiece Safety: Go-to Strategies for Infection Control & Maintenance

In order to minimize mistakes and keep dental practices compliant with safety regulations, Doug Mayer, a product specialist and handpiece expert at Dentsply Sirona, will discuss the strategies to minimize mistakes, decrease liability, and keep dental practices compliant with safety regulations in order to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens.

Doug Meyer, a product specialist and handpiece expert at Dentsply Sirona, will discuss strategies to minimize mistakes, decrease liability for businesses, and keep practices compliant with safety regulations. He mentions the importance of informed decision making when it comes to infection control and the transmission of bloodborne pathogens in dental settings.

Doug Mayer mentions that transmission of bloodborne pathogens in dental settings is rare, but it does happen and the goal is to prevent it from happening at all.

He mentions that the goal is to make sure there is no transmission of disease and that it is important to follow the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He also stresses the importance of proper maintenance and sterilization of dental handpieces to ensure their safety and longevity.

Here are the points of the discussion:

– It is important to follow guidelines from the CDC and OSHA, as well as any state or local regulations, in order to keep your practice compliant and reduce liability.
– A risk assessment program involves identifying the risks in your practice and developing a plan to mitigate them. This can include sterilization and disinfection protocols, personal protective equipment (PPE), and employee training.
– It is important to maintain and clean dental handpieces regularly in order to prevent the transmission of diseases and extend the life of the handpieces. This can include following the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance, as well as performing regular inspections and repairs as needed.
– It is important to document all sterilization and disinfection processes, as well as employee training and risk assessments, in order to have a record of compliance in case of an audit. This can include keeping records of sterilization cycle parameters, employee training logs, and risk assessment records.
– Other strategies to minimize mistakes and keep your practice compliant and safe may include implementing infection control policies and procedures, training employees on infection control protocols, and using quality assurance measures to ensure that sterilization and disinfection processes are effective.

At Hayes, we make dental staff training fun by bringing Pizza and Beer (or other drinks) during the training so your team can actually enjoy themselves.

For more assistance contact, your local Hayes representative to help ensure that your staff and practice are compliant with your local Hayes Handpiece representative