Monthly Archives: September 2025
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More than Just Sunglasses! Eye Protection in Dentistry: A Clinician’s Duty to Educate and Safeguard.
September 18, 2025When clients settle into the dental chair, they’re not just trusting us with their teeth... they’re trusting us with their safety as a whole. One of the most commonly overlooked, yet vital, components of that safety is eye protection. You may be asking yourself, “Why are we still talking about something as fundamental as protective eyewear? Shouldn’t this already be second nature in dentistry?” The truth is, it should be. However, the question continues to resurface in IPAC discussions, particularly as many practices experience rotating staff who may not have received consistent or comprehensive IPAC training. Dental procedures can produce aerosols, project debris, contaminate with water spray, chemicals, and even cause accidental sharp injuries. The result? Preventable injuries that can change lives forever.
Clinician Responsibility: Educate, Empower, Enforce
As dental professionals, our manda
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September 03, 2025
For decades, the aluminum foil test has been the go-to method for checking ultrasonic cleaners in dental, medical, and laboratory settings. It’s simple, inexpensive, and provides a visual confirmation that cavitation, the core cleaning action of an ultrasonic unit, is happening. But as our understanding of infection prevention and control has evolved, so too has the need for more accurate, clinically relevant verification methods.
The truth is, while the foil test might tell you that your ultrasonic unit is producing bubbles, it can’t tell you whether it’s actually cleaning instruments to the standard required for patient safety. This is where soil indicators come in.
The Limits of the Foil Test
The foil test works by running the ultrasonic cycle with pieces of aluminum foil suspended in the tank, then inspecting for pitting or perfo
