TOPIC: INFECTION CONTROL IN DENTAL RADIOLOGY
🌟 IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
🔸Infections of concern in dental radiography are infective hepatitis, HIV and AIDS, and herpes simplex infection.
🔸Personal protection should be carried out by covering of wound, protective clothing, gloves, mask and eyewear and hand-washing.
🔸Critical surface: This is a surface that penetrates the tissue and contacts blood. In the dental radiology, no critical surface is present.
🔸Semicritical surface: This is the surface which does not penetrate tissue but contacts mucous membrane. Examples are intraoral film, film holders, PID, panoramic bite guide and digital image receptors.
🔸Non-critical surface: This includes the surface which neither penetrates tissue nor contacts mucous membrane. There is contact only with intact skin. Examples are leaded apron, panoramic side and front guides, tube head, handles, head and armrest, chair seats and cones.
🔸Environmental surface: This does not have contact with the patient directly. Examples are table tops where instruments are placed and darkroom. In this case, sanitizations should be properly done.
🔸Barrier envelope: There is a commercially prepared barrier envelope for all sizes of film. This barrier protects from contact with saliva and blood during exposure. Barrier envelope has a V-shaped notch at the edge which facilitates the opening of the envelope.
📌 PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR INFECTION CONTROL :
💡Covering of working surface: Cover the entire surface of the X-ray machine with plastic wrap which includes PID, exposure button and arm of the X-ray machine.
💡Patient preparation: Seat the patient with the lead apron in the proper position.
💡Wash hands: Wash hands in front of the patient with antiseptic and put on gloves.
💡Expose the film: Do the required exposure, taking care to touch only the covered surface.
💡Placing the film: Saliva should be wiped out from the exposed film, and the film is kept in a disposable cup outside the room.
💡Discarding of contaminated barriers: After dismissing the patient discard all contaminated barriers and then disinfect the lead apron.
💡Remove gloves: Remove contaminated gloves and carry the film to the darkroom. Put on new gloves in the darkroom.
💡Remove the film from the packet: With a gloved hand remove the film from the barrier envelope and drop it on the clean surface. Do not touch the film with a gloved hand.
💡Dispose of the wrapper: Dispose of the wrapper carrying the cup and remove and dispose of the glove.
💡Process the film: Process uncontaminated film on a clean surface. Gloves are not needed for processing or mounting as the film is not contaminated.
📣 INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES IN DENTAL RADIOGRAPHS :
👉 Object & Their Management :
🔺Patient: Take proper case history
🔺Counter tips: Disinfect them
🔺Dental chairs: Disinfect them
🔺Film : Use barrier films; sterilise and carefully handle the film
🔺Film holder: It should be autoclaved or disinfected
🔺Cotton rolls: Dispose them
🔺Operator hand: Wash before and after the procedure
🔺X-ray tube head: Use a barrier or disinfect
🔺X-ray control panel: Use a barrier or disinfect
🔺Entrance of darkroom: Enter with an uncontaminated hand
🔺Automatic processor: Feed only uncontaminated film
🔺Paper waste: Dispose of contaminated waste carefully