Sidekick - East - Volume 2, 2017 - 32

After sterilization, assistant removes dry, wrapped instrument cassettes from the sterilizer and places them into sterile storage until use.

and precious time that can be devoted
to serving patients. In addition, safety
is significantly enhanced due to less
instrument handling.
Treatment Rooms
To prevent cross contamination, minimize
what is stored on the countertop. Some of
the most organized and profitable dental
offices I have served as a consultant
use procedure tubs for storage. Rather
than storing numerous tiny consumable
products (that end up expiring) in each
treatment room, organize your materials
in procedure tubs. Color-code your tubs
according to the procedure: endodontics,
restorative, crown and bridge, etc. In
essence, think of the tubs as portable
operatory drawers.
The challenge that most dental assistants
and hygienists face is time. During patient
procedures, valuable time is saved by using
instrument cassettes. For example, it can be
frustrating for clinical team members to
interrupt patient care to retrieve a missing
instrument or patient care item. Instrument
cassettes allow the team to set up for the
procedure in accordance with the
practitioner's preferences. Always having
the instruments needed within the cassette
allows the staff to function at an optimal
efficiency level. Efficiency translates into
greater productivity.
Time studies are helpful in improving our
processes. Time the service from the point
the patient is seated until the time the room
is ready for the next patient. Based on your
averages, create an appointment template
that fully reflects usage of the treatment
rooms and determine the types of devices
32

Sidekick | Vol. 2 2017

you need to minimize wasted time. We are
challenged with balancing superior care
for our patients, time constraints, and the
goal never to compromise safety. This leads
us to a discussion of utility gloves. As a
consultant, this is a common violation I
note in dental office safety programs.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), punctureand chemical-resistant heavy-duty utility
gloves3 should be worn for instrument
cleaning and decontamination procedures.2
In my work with dental groups throughout
the country, the question often comes up as
to when the assistant or hygienist should
don the utility gloves. The Organization
for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP)
provides valuable instruction: After patient
care has concluded, change into utility
gloves. Isolate and remove the instruments.3
Flush the waterlines.3 Remove and dispose
of the barriers, and remove the waste.3
Transport the contaminated instruments
in a puncture-resistant, labeled, and
leak-proof container.3 Although it is not
specified that the container must have a
cover or lid, it is safer if the container has a
cover. The contaminated instruments and
cassettes are ready for automatic cleaning.
After placing them in the ultrasonic or
instrument washer, wash the utility gloves
to decontaminate them and prevent
cross contamination.3 Now you are ready
to clean and disinfect the treatment
room. After cleaning and disinfecting the
operatory, remove the utility gloves, wash
your hands, and don patient exam gloves.3
It's that easy!

Sometimes it feels like we are running a
marathon as we race around the dental
office juggling patient care, infection
control and prevention, job safety, and
efforts to make the practice a profitable
business. However, if you get on your mark,
cassette, and get organized, you will pass
the finish line with success!
This article first appeared in Dental
Economics magazine, copyright 2016. Full
text reprinted with permission of PennWell
Corporation.

REFERENCES
1

From Policy to Practice: OSAP's Guide to the CDC
Guidelines (2004-2012). Atlanta, GA: Organization
for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention:52.

Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental HealthCare Settings-2003. Atlanta, GA: Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of
Health and Human Services; 2003.

Section 5-1. In: OSHA and CDC Guidelines:
Combining Safety with Infection Control and
Prevention for Dentistry. 4th ed. Atlanta, GA:
Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention.

About the Author: Olivia Wann attended
Tennessee Technology Center as a
registered dental assistant and earned
a bachelor's degree in health-care
administration from Saint Joseph's College.
She graduated from the Nashville
School of Law with a doctorate in
jurisprudence and is licensed to practice
law in Tennessee. In 2000, she founded
Modern Practice Solutions, which is
dedicated to the compliance issues of
dental practices.

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