Personal Protection and Safety

Maintaining a clean and safe environment in a dental office is of utmost importance. One area that often is overlooked, yet plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety is dental unit waterlines.

Dental unit waterlines, or DUWLs, can harbor harmful bacteria that pose a risk to dental staff and patients. This article will explore the importance of dental unit waterline maintenance and discuss the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Dental Association (ADA) recommendations for best practices for ensuring optimal patient safety.

Whether you are a dental professional or a patient seeking dental care, understanding the significance of proper waterline maintenance is essential for a healthy and safe dental experience. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of dental unit waterlines and the best practices to keep them clean and safe.

Unraveling the Protective Layers for First Responders

In the unyielding battle against the fentanyl epidemic, the protection of our first responders hinges on the reliability of their gear. Within this arsenal, chemotherapy tested nitrile gloves have emerged as a formidable defense against fentanyl exposure. This article dives into the intricate processes and standards that define the fentanyl protection capabilities of these gloves.

Understanding the Fentanyl Challenge

Fentanyl, notorious for its potency, being 50-100 times more potent than morphine, and 30-50 times more potent than heroin, demands specialized protective measures. Chemotherapy tested nitrile gloves go beyond conventional options, offering a robust defense against this formidable adversary. But how are these gloves rigorously tested to ensure

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.

It is no secret that dental clinicians work hours upon hours under the armor of personal protective equipment. For educational facilities and some dental offices, the pandemic PPE layers were not new protocols. For others, it was a novel approach to the safe practice of dentistry.

Are all these layers still required post-pandemic? Why had educational facilities and some offices already expanded their PPE wardrobe before the pandemic?

Gloves are the most important part of any medical facility.

Why do dentists choose nitrile gloves? — Disposable nitrile gloves are part of the dental staff’s personal protection equipment (PPE) used when completing exams and procedures. They provide a barrier of protection to the skin, resistance from tears, and durability. Nitrile gloves are produced from hypoallergenic synthetic materials, making them a safe alternative for those with latex allergies.

Latex Gloves vs. Nitrile Gloves

In the past, disposable latex gloves were the standard gloves used in hospitals and dental offices in Canada. That changed several years ago as latex allergies became more common, and nitrile gloves became the alternative.

Latex gloves are

This blog may have been posted after our holiday season celebrations with office parties and family gatherings.

As we return to our routine office schedules, we must maintain our respiratory health program with the most current and appropriate CDC infection prevention recommendations for the 2022-2023 flu season.

Influenza viruses are constantly changing, and even new viruses can appear each year and a gift none of us wants to receive.

Although the fall and winter is typically the most popular season for the flu to rear its ugly head, the season of flu can vary from different parts of the country and from season to season.

Annual flu is “a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death”.¹ (CDC influenza). Flu symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or

Knowing more information about choosing the right protective gown hopefully solves any dilemma about selection and usage. The required dental PPE lineup is full and highly influenced by the task. Remember to ‘pick the mask for the task’ and ‘go to town with the right gown!'