Maryanne Ferree, RDH, BS, PHDHP
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June 24, 2022The transfer of these microorganisms must occur in a sequence; this sequence is what epidemiologists call the chain of infection. This chain of infection transmission can be broken by integrating controls or methods that mitigate the pathway of disease spread from person to person. This sequence must be in order for the disease to occur. The way to stop disease transmission is to interrupt this chain at any link. Knowledge of the exit and entry portals and transmission modes provides a basis for determining appropriate control measures.....
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June 17, 2022It's easy for us to open the box of gloves, put them on, do our job, and take them off without giving them a second thought? But when we think about it, are we making infection control mistakes with the gloves we use many times during the day?
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May 05, 2022As oral health professionals, it's our responsibility to keep dental clinical contact surfaces clean and disinfected. At the same time, oral health professionals have a substantial investment in dental office equipment that they don't want to destroy with harsh chemicals. This is why it's important to look for cleaning and disinfecting products that meet or exceed IPAC standards and are also gentle enough to use on equipment. You can definitely have the best of both...
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March 29, 2022For dental offices that want to be water conscious, it can be hard to find the balance between following IPAC best practices and using less water. There are several things that dental offices can do to be more water conscious. Water conservation isn’t about being stingy or sacrificing patient safety. Water sustainability in dentistry is about finding an efficient way to use and reuse a limited and valuable resource and everyone can do their part.
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March 15, 2022World Oral Health Day is a great time for dental offices to take meaningful action to promote good oral health practices and help end the neglect of oral health. We have gathered some easy ways that dental offices can help spread awareness and conversation around World Oral Health Day.
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February 15, 2022
There is a current and robust trend to embrace all-natural products from what we eat, what we put in and, on our bodies, and lately, what we use for oral hygiene home care. We, as consumers, assume that natural products are better for our health and the environment. The vast array of dental products on store shelves along with internet and television advertisements flood our patients with the latest and greatest products....
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February 01, 2022
Dental professionals spend numerous hours a day dental practices reprocessing dental instruments. We open the box of sterilization pouches, fill them with instruments and send them to the heat and pressure of our autoclaves. How much thought do we put into that little plastic and paper bag?
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December 16, 2021
The cost of operating a dental office is staggering, and one sizeable investment is in dental handpieces. Choosing and investing in quality dental burs and handpieces increases productivity, reliability and reduces chair time for patients, making dental treatment less stressful. Handpieces are compressed-air driven, use newer electric technology, or are battery-powered, as in cordless prophy handpieces. Proper maintenance and sterilization practices provide years of service and guarantee patient safety.
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December 01, 2021
I remember my trips to the dentist as a child and looking at the dental bur blocks on the counter. I remember thinking there were so many and hoping they did not have to use the giant ones on me. At the time, of course, I did not realize that there were so many types of burs.
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November 11, 2021In sport, a huddle is an action of a team gathering, usually in a tight circle, to strategize, motivate or celebrate. It’s a tactic that is commonly used in American and Canadian football. the offensive team's huddle is almost always led by the quarterback, and the defensive huddle is typically led by one of the linebackers.
