As flu season approaches, it’s reassuring to know that Alberta dentists practice stringent
infection control. The Alberta Dental Association + College (ADA+C) has an infection
control committee to set standards for the profession and continually updates an infection
control manual that sits in every dentist’s office and is available on-line.

“The manual spells out what dentists must do,” said Dr. Stuart Root, a dentist in Peace
River, who chairs the ADA+C’s Infection Control + Prevention Committee. “We need to
sterilize our instruments, disinfect all surfaces (including lights and chairs) between
patient visits, clean the water lines between patients, and perform regular equipment
checks and tests on the autoclaves (heat sterilizer), water retraction valves and other
equipment.”

Besides cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting, there are frequent checks in the office and
the laboratory to ensure all is well. A standard biological spore test on sterilizers is done
regularly. Other standard precautions include the use of disposable items that come into
direct contact with a patient’s mouth, e.g. needle tips or the tips of irrigation and drying
hoses, and their safe disposal.

Dentists and their staff use protective barriers such as eye protectors, disposable masks
and gloves, and clothing such as lab coats or uniforms that are worn only in the office and
changed at least daily. In addition, it is recommended that dentists and dental staff have
up-to-date immunizations against common communicable diseases, including influenza
shots, to provide protection for both the dentist and the patient.

Dentists check a patient’s health history at each visit and advise people presenting with a
known cold or flu to reschedule their appointments. However, not everyone knows
whether they have contracted something in the early stages, so standard precautions call
for each patient to be managed as if they have an infectious disease.

“Our approach is the same as those of anyone in healthcare,” says Dr. Luke Shwart,
manager of Calgary Health Region’s Community Oral Health Service. “Dentists are very
aware that infection control can be a concern for patients. We ensure that all of our staff
are very well trained and vigilant in maintaining standard protocols.”

Though infection control standards are taught in university and practiced by every
dentist, the Alberta Dental Association + College has been provincially proactive in this
area. The provincial infection control reference manual is updated frequently. Dental
patients are treated with state-of-the-art infection control and prevention protocols. As
required under the Health Professions Act, dental offices will soon be regularly inspected.
“It may look like overkill,” says Shwart, “but it’s extremely important. We constantly
strive to be as good as we can be.”

In the event of a communicable disease outbreak, dentists, who are an integral part of the
healthcare team, follow additional protocols imposed by the provincial medical officer of
health or Health Canada.
For further information on oral health and infection control, talk to your dentist or visit
www.abda.ab.ca.

Media contact:
Kimberly Carriere, Director
Communications, Marketing + Member Services
Alberta Dental Association + College
Phone: (780) 432-1012 or toll free 1-800-843-3848