Family Dentistry ‘s Infection Control

Family Dentistry in Newburgh Sterilization Room

As the news coverage of the Oklahoma oral surgeon who has alledgely performed below standard infection control practices, all patients should be concerned of the procedures of their health care provider.   Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, and Hart want to convey the policies of stringent infection control that are performed at Family Dentistry in Newburgh, Indiana.  Infection control procedures are required by state and federal law and provide a safe and healthy enviroment for the patients as well as all the employees.  At our office, our employees and dentists attend training for OSHA (which includes the infection control)  and are tested on this material annually.  OSHA is a federal agency that enforces Occupational Safety and Health  for all the patients and employees.   The following procedures are abided by in our office 1. All dental staff involved with patients scrub their hands before each and every patient and use protective gear including gloves, masks, gowns, and eyewear during patient care. 2. New gloves and masks are used for each new patient.  3. Prior to a patient entering the room, all surfaces, such as dental chair, instrument tray, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and decontaminated.  4. Non-disposable dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients.  Our office utilizes the autoclave which involves steam under pressure to sterilize the instruments.  Please see picture of our sterilization room included above. 5.  Disposable items such as needles or gauze have a special disposal procedure that is abided and retrieved by a contracted business for infectious waste.   Family Dentistry has the utmost goal of providing the best dental care for a life time with following strict infection control procedures and staying current with the OSHA guidelines and continued education.  Feel free to contact Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, and Hart if you have any questions or you may visit the American Dental Association’s website at www.mouthhealthy.org for further information.