Recent Blog Posts

• Xerostomia: The Oral Desert

  Posted: April 26, 2024

  Categories: Oral Care , Dental Hygiene , Patient Health , Professional
  

  Xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth, occurs when the salivary glands in the mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. This lack of saliva can lead to discomfort, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and an increased risk of oral health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. Aging, medications, and medical conditions can also contribute to dry mouth. Assessing the reasons for xerostomia by a thorough medical history and examination will aid us in determining possible interventions to ease and manage the manifestations of the syndrome for our patients.

   

   

  Function of Saliva

   

  Saliva serves many purposes; it lubricates food and tissues, dilutes and clears sugars, protects tissues, clears dietary acids through swallowing, neutralizes and buffers acids, and balances the demineralization-remineralization process of teeth.

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• Unwrapping the Importance of Bacterial Filtration Efficiency in Sterilization Wrap

  Posted: April 12, 2024

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Dental Hygiene , Professional , Pathogens
  

  Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) is a measure used to evaluate the effectiveness of material at filtering out bacteria from a liquid or aerosolized solution. It’s often used in the context of healthcare settings, including dental offices, to assess the performance of sterilization wraps.

   

  In dental offices, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) protocols are critical for maintaining a safe and sterile environment for patients and staff. Sterilization wraps are used to cover instruments and equipment to prevent contamination and ensure the remain sterile until use.

   

  The BFE of sterilization wraps indicates how well the material can filter out bacteria, which is crucial for preventing the transmission of infectious agents during dental procedures. Higher BFE values signify better filtration efficiency, meaning the wrap is more effective at preventing bacterial contamination.

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• Spaulding’s Classifications for Dental Offices Including Single-use Items

  Posted: April 05, 2024

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Personal Protection and Safety , Infection Control , Dental Hygiene , Professional
  

  Spaulding’s classifications are a system used to categorize medical devices and equipment based on the risk of infection associated with their use. This system was created by Dr. Earle H. Spaulding in the mid-20^th century and has since become a standard in healthcare settings, including dental offices. There are three main classifications in the Spaulding system: critical, semi-critical, and non-critical.

   

  Critical items are those that come into contact with sterile tissue or the vascular system, posing the highest risk of infection if contaminated. In a dental office, critical items may include surgical instruments like scalpels and forceps. These items must be sterilized after each use to eliminate any potential pathogens.

   

  Semi-critical items are those that come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin but d

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• A Comprehensive Comparison: Magnetostrictive VS. Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Scalers

  Posted: March 29, 2024

  Categories: Procedural , Oral Care , Dental Hygiene , Professional
  

  Dental is a fundamental procedure in oral healthcare, essential for maintaining optimal dental hygiene and preventing oral diseases. Among the various tools and techniques employed in dental debridement, two prominent methods stand out: magnetostrictive scalers, and piezoelectric scalers. Understanding the differences between these two ultrasonic scalers is crucial for dental professionals to make informed decisions about their clinical practices and provide the best possible care for their patients.

  Magnetostrictive scalers and piezoelectric scalers operate on distinct principles, each offering unique advantages and drawbacks. In this comprehensive comparison, we dive a little deeper into the intricacies of these two methods, exploring their mechanisms of action, applications, and the highlights and challenges associated with each.

  As we embark on this exploration,

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