Infection Control
Infection controls and universal precautions protect clients and staff alike. Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control – you, your dentist, and the dental team. The cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust. We want you to feel free to discuss this topic with us and receive a straightforward answer.
Dr. Sokol and our entire team follow procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These measures include:
- Disinfectant hand soap
- Gloves and face masks
- Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces
- Sterilization of all equipment before and after every use
- Disposable materials
“At my office I have gone above and beyond OSHA requirements to protect my patients and my staff. I installed an ultraviolet water sterilization system to ensure that only treated water is emitted from my equipment during all dental procedures. A separate UV system was installed to treat the air we breathe throughout the office to significantly eliminate airborne pathogens.”–Dr. Sokol
After each patient, instruments are cleaned prior to sterilization in our state-of-the-art Sci-Can chemical instrument washer; this removes all debris from the instruments leaving them clean and safer for our staff to handle during the sterilization process.
We then sterilize all reusable equipment, including dental hand pieces. We use a digital autoclave,;a device that kills bacteria and viruses with precisely measured steam, heat and pressure.
The best defense against disease is information. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your health care. The more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel.