PPE per CDC guidance is unique wearable coverings designed to protect dental professionals in G.J. Palmieri, DDS & Associates, LLC from exposure to infections, such as the coronavirus. The PPE is worn during dental procedures and when cleaning sterilizing dental instruments. This article answers some questions about PPE per CDC guidance.
PPE means personal protective equipment and it is meant to stop cross-infection between dental health care personnel and patients. PPE per CDC guidance typically includes face masks, gloves, protective eyewear, face shields and protective clothing such as a jacket, lab coat and reusable or disposable gown.
Dental professionals wear a surgical mask that protects their nose and mouth during dental procedures, which may generate aerosols, sprays of blood or body fluids. Additionally, surgical masks protect the dental professional when cleaning instruments manually. A surgical mask also shields patients from microorganisms expelled by the wearer. The surgical mask is replaced between patients or during a procedure if it gets wet.
Dental healthcare professionals wear protective eyewear with side shields or face shields during any procedure that will probably generate spatter of debris or sprays of body fluids or blood. Reusable protective eyewear should be cleaned with water and soap, and when visibly contaminated, disinfected before next use.
Dentists wear protective clothing such as jackets and gowns to prevent contamination of regular clothing and to shield the skin from exposure to body fluids and blood. Sleeves should cover the forearms. The protective clothing should be replaced if it gets visibly contaminated by body fluids or blood. The protective clothing should be taken off before leaving the dental office, according to PPE per CDC guidance.
Surgical facemasks are considered an important part of PPE per CDC guidance. As the FDA notes, surgical masks are not created for multiple uses. If the mask gets contaminated or damaged, or if it becomes harder to breathe through the mask, it should be removed, safely discarded and replaced with a new mask.
A single-use mask is disposable and designed to be used for a single procedure. It should not be reprocessed and used for another patient. If there are no reprocessing instructions for the device, it should be treated as single-use and disposed of properly, regardless of labeling.
Gloves are an important part of PPE per CDC guidance. Dental professionals wear them to avoid hand contamination when touching blood, saliva, mucous membranes or infectious materials and to minimize the risk of transferring microorganisms on their hands to patients during patient care. Gloves are single-use only and should be disposed of properly after use. Hand hygiene is important after removing the gloves.
No, it does not. Gloves can be compromised or torn during use, and hands can become stained when removing the gloves. Also, bacteria can multiply quickly in humid environments under the gloves. Therefore, dental professionals will ensure their hands are dry before wearing gloves. Hand washing should be done immediately after removing gloves.
When a dental emergency occurs and additional questions regarding PPE per CDC guidance arise, contact the dental office for more information.
Request an appointment here: https://lancasterpadentist.com or call G.J. Palmieri, DDS & Associates, LLC at (717) 708-9010 for an appointment in our Lancaster office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
A common question dentists receive about CEREC crowns® is whether they are as strong as traditional crowns. To answer this question, it is important to understand what CEREC® crowns and traditional crowns are made of and which material is stronger. This article is a review of which restoration option is stronger. CEREC crowns are most notably…
Wondering why dental patients are choosing professional teeth whitening in-office services? Having a dental professional make all the decisions allows for a safe whitening procedure that offers immediate and long-lasting results.Choosing to undergo professional teeth whitening services means patients will be under the supervision of a dental professional. This means there is no need for…
Tooth pain is common in individuals of all ages, which makes it a top priority for family dentists to address. Every type of tooth pain is different, however, in general, it is an indicator that something else is wrong. When experiencing tooth pain, it can be helpful to become familiar with what it may mean. Tooth…
Wondering why a dental fillings is also known as a direct dental restoration? There are both direct and indirect restoration options available, with each option addressing a particular dental problem. Examples of indirect options include dental crowns, dental bridges, dental veneers and dental implants, as these types of restorations are constructed outside of the mouth.…
A common question dentists receive about CEREC crowns® is whether they are as strong as traditional crowns. To answer this question, it is important to understand what CEREC® crowns and traditional crowns are made of and which material is stronger. This article is a review of which restoration option is stronger. CEREC crowns are most notably…
Wondering why dental patients are choosing professional teeth whitening in-office services? Having a dental professional make all the decisions allows for a safe whitening procedure that offers immediate and long-lasting results.Choosing to undergo professional teeth whitening services means patients will be under the supervision of a dental professional. This means there is no need for…