PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. It refers to any equipment or clothing specifically designed to be worn or used by individuals to protect themselves from potential hazards, risks, or injuries in the workplace or other environments.

In the dental industry, ensuring the safety of dental professionals and patients is of paramount importance. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a vital role in safeguarding against potential hazards, including infectious diseases, chemical exposure, and physical injuries. Donning and doffing protocols are crucial procedures that dental professionals must adhere to in order to properly wear and remove PPE. This article will explore the various types of PPE used in the dental industry and the correct practices for donning and doffing.

July 1976 at the American Legion Convention at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, Legionnaires was named and identified as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia with 200 cases and 29 deaths (3) (5).  The outbreak was linked to the inhalation of aerosolized contaminated water (3)(5).  A milder infection caused by the same type of Legionella bacteria is called Pontiac fever. Rewinding in time, in 1968 in Pontiac Michigan, Pontiac Fever was named and identified as an outbreak of influenza-like illness, identified by people who worked at & visited the city’s health department and had inhaled aerosols from contaminated water (3). Legionnaires' disease is an acute bacterial disease, causing death in 5% to 30% of cases (4). The Government of Canada’s Legionella site, states the following:

“Cases of Legionnaire’s disease may be difficult to detect because very few of the people exposed to the bacteria get infecte

This explanatory article on barriers is part of a series of articles that were created to help new office managers and patients understand the uses and best practices of barrier products for infection control. 

Interim guidance on infection prevention and control for suspect, probable, or confirmed monkeypox within Healthcare settings*

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) predominantly affect infants and children under 5 years old. It's characterized by symptoms like fever, mouth sores, and a distinctive skin rash on the hands and feet, sometimes spreading to other body parts like the buttocks, legs, and arms. The disease typically lasts 7 to 10 days and is caused by viruses from the Enterovirus family, notably Coxsackievirus A16 and Coxsackievirus A6, which are common in North America, while Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) has been associated with more severe cases, especially in East and Southeast Asia.

Symptoms of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Symptoms generally manifest around 3 to 5 days after exposure, starting with fever and flu-like indications, followed by the appearance of painful mouth sores and a

The process of disinfecting is a two-step procedure. First, the surface must be cleaned to ensure all blood, debris, and waste is removed. Second, the surface is disinfected by applying a disinfectant and letting the chemicals activate for the noted contact time to kill all bacteria, viruses and possible fungi present.