There was an article recently released about an Oral Surgeon in Oklahoma. The article tells of numerous violations of infection control procedures by him and his staff. The violations resulted in possible exposure of hundreds to thousands of patients to blood borne pathogens.

Obviously there is no excuse for such disregard for infection control. It is important to stress that this is an isolated incident and is by no means a reflection on the dental profession as a whole.

Douglas Dental is committed to ensuring the safety of all our patients and employees and implements strict infection control standards. All instruments are heat sterilized to ensure that no cross contamination can occur. Sterilization equipment is monitored on a weekly basis by an outside monitoring service to ensure all equipment is functioning properly. Whenever possible, disposable, single use supplies are used and disposed of after use. Universal precautions are always observed and personal protective equipment worn. Plastic barriers such as chair covers and handle and button covers are also used to prevent cross-contamination and all rooms and patient contact areas are disinfected between patients.

Patients should be comfortable asking their healthcare providers about any concerns they may have regarding infection control. Those providers should also be comfortable and willing to discuss protocols to endure patient safety.