Getting Comfortable with Dental Care

Easing fears is a common and necessary practice for oral health professionals. Feeling comfortable and secure in the dental chair increases routine cleaning and oral health treatment that leads to improved health. Strong infection prevention practices protect the individual and the staff from being exposed to germs and viruses that may be living in the mouth.  

“Infection control is an integral component to the dental workforce for patient safety as well as the safety of dental professionals. Annual training on the subject ensures clinicians are up to date on current OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards,” shared Cori Jacobson, vice president for the South Dakota Dental Hygiene Association. 

South Dakota Project Firstline (SD PFL) provides infection prevention and control training and resources for oral health professionals and students.  Participating in virtual training sessions held after clinic hours allows clinicians to obtain education without impacting patient visits. The PFL education and materials review hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, needle sticks, cleaning, disinfection, and more. 

Jacobson emphasized the value, “The Project Firstline training allowed us to offer a live webinar at a convenient time in the evening as a training opportunity for dental hygienists statewide. We truly appreciated that there is not a charge for the training.” 

“Dental care is one avenue to improve overall health. Being able to reassure the care is safe is of utmost importance for those receiving services,” added Jess Danko, MHSA, RRT, LTC-CIP, program manager for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC). “Proactive learning about infection prevention processes prior to working directly in the setting is an added layer of protection for the dental students and those who will receive their care in the future.” 

Monthly office hour calls provide additional infection prevention information.  Held on the second Wednesday of every month, the SD PFL team reviews infection prevention tips and resources.  The June topic is titled, “Germs on Devices” and will discuss proper cleaning and disinfection of health care tools and other common devices to prevent the spread of infection.  Anyone interested can register for the SD PFL Office Hours or watch recordings of previous topics.