The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is the federal agency responsible for the enforcement of safety measures in any workplace, including every Guelph dental office. Basically, the OSHA sets up guidelines in these establishments to keep people safe while they are working. The guidelines that OSHA has set up for dental offices are very strict and must be followed to the letter to ensure the safety of dental practitioners—and their patients as well.
From the patient’s point of view, the OSHA guidelines for the dental office make sure that your dentist in Guelph is working safely and following the necessary procedures in order to keep you, his patient, healthy. Dentists are doctors, too; so just like any medical building, a dental office must be kept hazard-free.
Every professional dentist is required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) specific to their vocation. Such protective gear are worn to keep the dentist away from bacteria and germs that may cause infection or disease. Since dentists work on people’s mouths, they’re bound to encounter such potentially dangerous issues. Wearing PPEs help a dentist ensure he won’t pass them from one patient to another.
Gloves
One of the most important pieces of a dentist’s protective gear are gloves. Dentists are always required to wear gloves when working on a patient because they will be moving from the patient’s mouths to dental tools and vice versa frequently during the course of the treatment. Protective gloves prevent any blood or bodily fluids from getting on the dentist’s hands and transferred to his eyes, nose, or mouth.
Surgical Masks
Like gloves, surgical masks also protect the dentist from blood and other fluids that may come from the patient. Likewise, surgical masks are also a necessity so the dentist can protect himself from airborne viruses like the common cold. A dentist may also choose to wear an eye shield for the same reasons, especially if the procedure is likely to come with splashes, sprays, or debris.
Gowns and Jackets
Dentists wear protective clothing such as gowns and jackets to prevent contamination of their clothing and to protect the skin from exposure to blood and body fluids. To enhance safety, dentists need to change protective clothing daily and remove them before leaving the work area.
Guelph Dentists Uphold Your Safety
Established dental practices in Guelph such as Woolwich Dental Group want to ensure the dental treatments you receive are as safe and effective as possible. You can trust them to be in full compliance to the OSHA guidelines and other industry standards.
Sources: Frequently Asked Questions - Personal Protective Equipment (Masks, Protective Eyewear, Protective Apparel, Gloves), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Is your office in compliance with OSHA regulations?, Dental Tribune