Professional
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March 15, 2024
Face masks have become a common sight for the human population, especially since the Covid-19 global pandemic hit in 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, public health agencies were hesitant to recommend the consistent use of face masks. The general public was also uncertain of what to believe. To mask or not to mask, this was the question. However, after the World Health Organization acknowledged that the virus could be airborne and linger in the air for hours, masking as a weapon against the coronavirus became a preventive measure to keep virus transmission in check. It was not unusual to see face masks hanging from every car rearview mirror, offered at the entrance to every business, or mandated at every work environment. Face coverings became a fashion statement when people made cloth face coverings in many styles and fabrics. This cloth covering was acceptable for the general public and is considered a form of universal source control.
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March 08, 2024
Risk management is at the forefront of the topic of infection prevention and control (IPAC). When looking at IPAC through a risk management lens we can breakdown where the risks originate and tackle them with the proper mitigation. Tackle them AHEAD of time before they are a problem. Think of risk mitigation as the addition of safety nets to catch the problem and halt its negative consequences.
Risk management deduction is best executed by posing the ‘right’ questions. Simple questions that allow the narrowing of the problem at hand. There is no magic number of questions, but rather realizing it can take as many questions as needed. On the topic of instrument reprocessing what questions could be asked to see the risks, evaluate if your safety nets have holes and decide where to add or repair safety nets? Let’s break it down.
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March 01, 2024
For many, the thought of visiting the dentist evokes a sense of apprehension. It’s not just the anticipation of needles or the whirring of dental drills that can send shivers down the spine; it’s also the discomfort of keeping your mouth wide open for what seems like an eternity. If you’ve ever found yourself counting down the minutes until your dental appointment is over, you’re not alone.
The strain of maintaining an open mouth throughout a procedure can be surprisingly taxing, leaving many patients dreading their time in the dental chair. But what if there were a simple solution to this common source of discomfort? Enter the unsung hero of dental care: the mouth prop.
The Unspoken Challenge of Dental Visits
It’s a scenario that plays out in countl
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February 23, 2024
White fillings, otherwise known as composite resin restorations, have revolutionized modern dentistry, allowing dentists to provide patients with aesthetically pleasing and durable solutions for damaged or decayed teeth. However, postoperative sensitivity remains a significant concern for both clinicians and patients. Although postoperative sensitivity can naturally occur, let’s dive into three of the primary causes of postoperative sensitivity that dentists look for and provide evidence-based strategies that contribute to minimizing its occurrence when they place composite resin restorations.
Understanding the Causes of Postoperative Sensitivity
There are three main factors dentists consider when a patient presents with postoperative sensitivity:
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February 16, 2024
Infection control in dentistry is critical to ensuring dental practitioners' and patients' health and safety. With the rise of infectious diseases and the need for stringent practices to prevent their spread, compliance with infection control protocols is of utmost importance in the dental industry. However, achieving full compliance can be challenging, as healthcare providers may demonstrate the Hawthorne effect, impacting their behavior and adherence to recommended guidelines. This article explores the concept of the Hawthorne effect in relation to infection control in dentistry and discusses strategies to ensure effective compliance.
The Hawthorne effect, initially discovered through a series of studies in the 1920s and 1930s at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works in Chicago, refers to the phenomenon where people modify their behavior due to the awareness or perception of being observed. In the context of infection control
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February 09, 2024
Where do the IPAC Standards in Canada originate? To simplify, the hierarchy revolves around the Canadian Standards Association Group (CSA). CSA is organized with technical committees under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Health and Well-Being. Standards are developed and in compliance with the Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada, then published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group (CSA, 2023).
Where does Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) fit in? Since its establishment in 2004, PHAC is a federal department that operates separately from Health Canada reporting directly to the Canadian Minister of Health (Marchildon,2008). PHAC works with Chief Public Health Officers in the municipal and provincial sectors. At the municipal level are the local Public Health Units (PHU).
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February 02, 2024
Dental caries, commonly known as cavities, pose a significant threat to oral health. Dental fillings, while essential in treating cavities and restoring tooth structure, are not immune to the potential risk of recurrent caries. The process of recurrent caries around fillings involves a series of factors that compromise the integrity of the restoration, leading to subsequent decay. Understanding this process is crucial for both dental professionals and patients in implementing effective preventive measures.
How Does a Cavity Form Under an Existing Restoration?
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to recurrent caries around dental fillings, let us explore the intricate dynamics involved in this process. Five key elements play a crucial role in the development of recurrent
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January 19, 2024
The New 2023 Standards from the Canadian Standards Association.
The second edition of CAN/CSA-Z314, Canadian Medical Device Reprocessing in All Healthcare Settings was updated over a course of several years and released in 2023. It supersedes the previous edition (CAN/CSA-Z314:18) published in 2018 under the title Canadian medical device reprocessing. All editions of the standard address the safe and effective reprocessing of medical devices and supplies in healthcare facilities.
The editing of the title itself is part of the task of
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January 12, 2024
Dental handpieces are a dental office's most essential and costly investment. Handpieces are the workhorses of the practice. Whether high-speed, low-speed, or cordless, handpieces are considered semi-critical dental devices that must be reprocessed appropriately to avoid harming the device, causing it to operate ineffectively, or reducing its productive life while maintaining sterility.
Dental handpieces contact mucous membranes and oral fluids. These instruments have not been associated with disease transmission at this time; however, high-speed and low-speed handpieces can retract oral fluids into the internal workings of the handpiece. DNA of viruses has been found inside both highspeed handpieces and prophy angles. If not cleaned and sterilized correctly, this debris could later be
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January 05, 2024
The world of dentistry stands as a testament to the transformative power of technology. From ancient dental practices rooted in rudimentary tools to the contemporary landscape characterized by cutting-edge innovations, the evolution of dental technology has been nothing short of remarkable. Over centuries, advancements in science, engineering, and medicine have revolutionized the way oral health is understood, diagnosed, and treated. This journey of innovation not only reshaped the dentist's toolkit but also significantly enhanced patient care, comfort, and outcomes.
Let's explore this journey through time, tracing the milestones and pivotal moments that have shaped modern dentistry into the dynamic and technologically driven field it is today, along with the advancements and innovations of the future.
Early Innovations