Personal protective equipment commonly referred to as "PPE" in a dental office, is a protective barrier worn to minimize exposure to infectious diseases and protect the dental team from workplace hazards.
Selecting the correct type of PPE to wear and following the correct donning and doffing sequence is essential to ensure proper protection and avoid contamination. The RCDSO provides a detailed PPE table of which type of personal protective equipment is needed for each procedure/task at hand for dentists, staff, patients, and visitors.
The most common misuse of personal protective equipment in dental offices is staff walking throughout the office wearing their PPE. Dental professionals should refrain from speaking to patients in the waiting room while already donned in their gowns or walk throughout the office/hallways with gloves on. The optics of wearing PPE is that it is contaminated. Have PPE ready to don prior to patient interaction in the operatory or the designated donning area.
Do not reuse gowns. Do not go from patient to patient wearing the same gown.
Never wear gloves throughout the office.
Lab coat usage is discouraged in dental offices. Most lab coats have v-necks and do not have elastic bands on the cuff of the wrists, which exposes the dental team member's neck and wrist area. The front buttons on lab coats can also become contaminated during the donning and doffing procedures.
Common mistakes or bad habits while using PPE:
Wear face masks correctly, do not have your mask sitting below your nose.
Cover your wrists - ensure gloves are brought up over the cuff of your gown.
Safety glasses while not in use should not be resting on your head.
Staff who feel cold should not wear gowns throughout the office to stay warm.
Do not wear your uniform outside of the office - change into street clothes daily.
Do not place a used mask in your uniform pocket/or place your mask on the lunchroom table while eating.
Breaking bad habits, selecting the correct type of PPE, and using the proper donning and doffing sequence will set your dental team up for success.
If you have any IPAC questions or would like an IPAC assessment please contact us on the home page.
References:
RCDSO - COVID -19 Frequently Asked Questions