The dental profession has always taken precautions to prevent cross-infection. Indeed with new knowledge and better technology, the procedures to prevent infection have become even more stringent. So now, more than ever, the possibility of getting infected while undergoing dental treatment is practically NIL.

What is Cross-Infection?

It is the transmission of diseases from one patient to another or, from the patient to the dentist, or vice-versa. This is prevented by the routine practice of Universal Infection Control, so described because it is practised for ALL patients walk into the dental clinic.

Universal Infection Control routines involve a range of procedures such as: Sterilization All equipment that have been used are thoroughly washed and then sterilized. Sterilization involves the use of heat, chemicals or radiation to destroy ALL germs.

The most common sterilizer used is the autoclave. • All instruments such as: • tweezers, mouth mirrors and numerous other hand instruments • burs (the small drill bits that actually do the cutting of the tooth) • metal cups • trays on which the instruments are placed • the modern dental handpiece (drill) can all be sterilized in the autoclave. All instruments placed in the mouth would have been sterilized before your treatment. In dental clinic, there many items that are used only once and then thrown away. These include • injection needles • scalpel blades • saliva ejectors (suction tips) • napkins, towels, cups Barriers Your dentist routinely wears gloves, masks goggles or face shields during treatment. These serve as protective barriers against the transmission of diseases. Gloves are disposed of after each patient. Chemical Disinfectants After every treatment, while the dentist is washes hands with antiseptic soap, the nurse would ensure that the dental chair and table surfaces which are contaminated are wiped with disinfectant chemicals. Disposable of Wastes To further protect you from accidental contamination, used articles such as needles, gloves and gauze are considered as biohazardous, and are collected in separate bins and disinfected or disposed of, separately from normal refuse. All the procedures listed above, and more, are recommended by the Singapore Dental Association.The Ministry of Health has inspectors who check clinics under the "Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act". These inspectors ensure that recommended standards for infection control procedures are adhered to. Use of any product(s) in the illustrations does not represent endorsement by the Foundation.