Hadi Salimi, Reza Golvardi Yazdi,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Dental technicians are in indirect contact with patients. Microorganisms find their way to dental labs through dental impressions. Infection control is a critical procedure to prevent the spreading of diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of infection control knowledge and practice and the factors affecting them, in DLs in Yazd – Iran.
Methods: All dental labs in Yazd – Iran were visited and all working technicians were asked to fill questionnaires including knowledge and practice questions. Data was analyzed using t-test via SPSS 17.
Results: Out of 26 filled questionnaires 73% and 50% of the technicians had respectively poor awareness and practice. Regarding adherence to infection control procedures, technicians with higher work experience had significantly higher scores (p value = 0.015). Technicians educated in the field of dental technologies had significantly higher awareness and practice scores (p value= 0.015, 0.029).
Conclusion: Technicians who have been trained at dental schools have higher knowledge and practice regarding infection control. Since dental labs are not obligated to hire only these technicians, workers without related education are occupied in dental labs. This result in the unfortunate status of infection control in dental labs. The poor status of infection control in dental labs can contribute to spread infections to patients and the related healthcare team.
Ezatolah Kazeminejad, Negar Naghashpour,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (3-2021)
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to increasing global concerns about infection control. Amid this pandemic, dentistry could be considered as one of the most high-risk medical sectors for health workers due to the high exposure to patients infected with this deadly virus.After the decline of the steep prevalence of COVID -19 cases, the dental associations have allowed dental offices to reopen under special circumstances by taking the necessary precautions and following the prescribed guidelines to keep both the dentists and their patients safe and healthy during the treatment.
The aim of this review is to present a policy to manage and facilitate the dental procedures in the dental practice routine amid coronavirus by focusing on the patients’ risk level in order to keep the possibility of COVID -19 transmission to a minimum.
