Infection Control

The times that we live in today see a high prevalence of a number of infectious diseases such as influenza, Hepatitis B and HIV within the general population. With a view to protect both staff and patients alike, the PearliWhyte Dental Solutions workforce adhere strictly to Universal Infection Control procedures that aim to prevent cross infections.

The attending doctor and assistant wear Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.), that includes uniforms changed on a daily basis, disposable gloves, masks and eye wear.

This helps to prevent the spread of infective bacteria and viruses to and from the patient.
The presence of a full time chair side assistant ensures that the dentist or specialist is able to focus their attention efficiently on the patient and in so doing avoiding further cross contamination by allowing the attending doctor to effectively limit contact of their contaminated gloved hands with any surfaces other than those in immediate use with regards the dental treatment being performed.

All work surfaces and non heat sterilizable material containers that are ‘touched’ and potentially contaminated during a dental treatment are subjected to a chemical wipe down with a Glutaraldehyde solution that renders the surfaces disinfected.

All hand instruments that come into contact with bodily fluids, i.e. blood, saliva and plasma or pus, are subjected to a sterilization routine that kills all microorganisms leaving the instruments 100% sterile prior to their use in any other patient.

The sterilization routine consists of the following stages:

1. Gross removal of all organic material contaminating the surfaces of the hand instruments/burs/rubber and plastic instruments through a manual process and with the use of a scouring agent/ brush.
2. Cold sterilization of all the instruments/burs/plastic instruments in a Glutaraldehyde based solution that has bacterialcidal, virucide, tuberculocide, pseudomonacide, sporicide and fungicidal actions and leaves the instruments up to 100% disinfected after a 20 minute soak at 25degrees Celsius.
3. Soak instruments in an Ultrasonic bath, with ultrasonic salts, for 25 minute.
4. Aseptic packaging of all previously cold sterilized instruments in to individual heat sterilizing packages.
5. Autoclave/heat sterilization of all metal based instruments/burs at 134 degrees Celsius and 2 Bars. This renders the instruments 100% sterilized.
6. Correct storage of all sterilised instrument packs in designated drawers.
7. Opening of sterilised packs when needed only and in the presence of the patient.

All disposable items, such as suction tips, applicator tips, needles and partially used local anaesthetic ampuoles are correctly discarded after each patient.