Preventing the spread of contagious diseases

Aim

To understand how droplet-borne pathogens can spread in a dental practice

Objectives

This article relates to GDC development outcome C

Dental practices have a duty of care to their patients and their staff to keep the practice environment clean and free from harmful pathogens and to minimise the risk of infection. Any patient who visits the surgery could be carrying an undiagnosed illness which they could easily pass on to other patients and practice staff in a number of ways.

Dentists, nurses, hygienists and therapists are exposed daily to pathogens, particularly from those found in blood and saliva which they come into contact with during dental procedures. In addition to this, all staff and patients visiting the practice are at risk of becoming infected by air- or surface-borne pathogens such as those that can survive in the air in droplet form and on surfaces for several hours.