Radiology Infection Control

Rationale: – Purpose is to prevent the transmission of infectious disease – Infectious diseases may be transmitted from a patient to the dental professional – From the dental professional to a patient – From one patient to another patient

Equipment of Infection Control PPE Hand Washing Sterilization and Disinfection of Instruments – Critical instruments Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or bone – Semi critical instruments Instruments that contact but do not penetrate soft tissue or bone – Noncritical instruments Instruments or devices that do not come in contact with mucous membranes

Before Exposure Treatment area should be properly disinfected before x-rays – X-ray machine – Dental chair – Work area – Lead apron Supplies and equipment – Film or digital sensors – Beam alignment devices – Miscellaneous items Labeled Cup, cotton rolls and paper towels

Before Exposure Prep of the patient – Chair adjustment – Headrest adjustment – Lead apron – Miscellaneous Objects Prep of the Operator – Handwashing – Gloves – Mask and eyewear – Beam alignment devices

During Exposure Touch as few surfaces as possible Drying of film Place film in labeled cup Beam alignment devices should be placed on covered surfaces and replaced as used Interruptions – Remove gloves and wash hands/then rewash and reglove

After Exposure While gloved – Dispose of contaminated disposable items – Remove gloves and wash hands – Remove lead aprons – Dismiss your patient Reglove and remove all used equipment in operatory Clean operatory as normal

Processing X-rays Film transport – Transported by cup Darkroom supplies – Use paper towels and gloves – Film mounts/pencil for labeling Film handling – Use gloves and place contaminated items on a paper towel before disposing properly Disinfection of the darkroom – Areas touched by contaminated gloves must be wiped down

Steps in developing an x-ray

Use of a Daylight Loader Place paper cup and the vinyl or non-powdered gloves in the daylight loader Place the container with contaminated films next to the cup Close the daylight loader lid, and push hands through openings Put on gloves Take one contaminated film out of the container Load film to develop Dispose of film wrappings in the paper cup After developing remove gloves and place in cup Remove hands from daylight loader Wash hands Lift lid to remove and discard cup Label the film mount with patients name

Daylight Loader