Dental Office Cleanliness

From time to time the dental society receives a consumer complaint regarding the lack of cleanliness in a dentist's office. Certainly, the need to maintain a very clean environment is a must for any dental office in order to protect both patients and dental care workers from possible infection or serious illness.

It is extremely important for any dental office to maintain a clean and safe environment not only for the positive image that is portrayed in a health care setting, but also for the prevention of potential contamination by pathogens that may be heightened by a lack of clean and sterile conditions. There are a number of regulations and guidelines in place which address these issues both from the federal government and from the American Dental Association.

While there are no specific rules in Illinois specifying cleanliness standards in dental offices, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association have established such guidelines. First, dental offices should be generally clean and orderly, free of dust on countertops, work surfaces, chairs and other equipment and furniture. Besides general cleanliness, for patient safety, examining and treatment rooms should be cleaned and decontaminated on all surfaces between patients including such items as dental chairs, the dental light, drawer handles and countertops. Some offices may cover this equipment with protective covers that are replaced after each patient. Sharp items and anything contaminated with blood or saliva are disposed of after each patient.

There are a number of other specific guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that address infection control in the dental office. These guidelines include:

• Hand washing and use of gloves
• Protective clothing
• Sterilization and disinfection of instruments
• Cleaning of dental handpieces (drills)
• Use of disposable items
• Disposal of waster materials including sharp items

If you have concerns about general office cleanliness, you may contact your local health department or the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation at 312-814-6910