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.
Gum disease and other oral issues are preventable with good dental hygiene. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, may affect both children and adults; however, if left untreated, it can worsen rapidly and cause considerable pain as well as secondary infections. Scaling and root planing are recommended for treating mild to moderate cases of…
Today, with increasing importance placed on dental aesthetics, there are many reasons why one may consider a trip to the cosmetic dentist. The desire for good-looking teeth is important as beautiful smiles are known to contribute to a person's overall well-being and positive self-image. There are many different avenues for fixing an imperfect smile. In…
A convenient alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign® uses a series of clear removable aligners that gradually shift teeth. The aligners are custom-made for each patient to fit their individual dental treatment plan. Invisalign® is intended for adults and teenagers with fully developed adult teeth. The aligners, also known as trays, are made of flexible BPA-free plastic…
CEREC® crowns are a popular solution that quickly restores your confident smile. A crown is a small cap that fits over your tooth to hide cosmetic issues and restore functionality to damaged teeth. While there are many types of crowns, this type is made of strong ceramic material and is designed, created, and installed with…
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, may affect both children and adults; however, if…
Today, with increasing importance placed on dental aesthetics, there are many reasons why one may…
A convenient alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign® uses a series of clear removable aligners that…
CEREC® crowns are a popular solution that quickly restores your confident smile.
Most people want to know how dental implants will affect the way they eat and…
A dental emergency does not improve on its own. Fortunately, emergency dentists are able to…