Infection Control Policy

The Dental Practice is committed to providing safe, high-quality dental care. This commitment extends to the control and prevention of infections within the practice. This policy outlines our approach to infection control and the responsibilities of our team members.

Responsibilities:

• Staff members are responsible for following infection control procedures and guidelines.
• Each member of the team is responsible for maintaining a clean and safe working environment.
• The Infection Control Lead is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy, staff training, and adherence to infection control guidelines.

Hand Hygiene:

Hand hygiene is the most critical aspect of infection control. Staff members must clean their hands thoroughly with soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after each patient interaction, after touching any potentially contaminated surfaces and before wearing and after removing gloves.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Appropriate PPE including gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns must be worn when indicated. PPE should be changed between patients and disposed of appropriately.

Instrument Sterilisation:

All reusable instruments will be cleaned and sterilised according to manufacturers' instructions and guidelines in HTM01-05. Single-use items will be disposed of safely after use.

Environmental Cleaning:

Surfaces in the dental surgery and common areas will be cleaned regularly with appropriate cleaning agents to reduce the risk of environmental contamination.

Waste Disposal:

All waste materials will be disposed of safely in accordance with local regulations. This includes sharps, clinical waste, and general waste.

Training and Education:

All staff members will receive training on infection control as part of their induction and on an ongoing basis. This includes updates when new guidance or legislation is introduced.

Monitoring and Review:

This policy will be regularly reviewed, and updates will be made as necessary to ensure that the practice maintains effective infection control procedures.

Approval:

This Infection Control Policy has been approved by senior management at The Dental Practice.

Date:

Policy implemented on: [Insert Date]

Next Review due: [Insert Date (One year from implementation)]