Program Manual - Saint Louis University

4. Attach saliva ejector tip, sterilized hand piece and sterilized/disinfected three-way
syringe when appropriate for the treatment procedure.
5. Place a toothbrush and a cup of mouth-rinse where they will be accessible to the
patient.
6. Set up all items to be used during the delivery of care.
Patient Treatment Protocol
1. General
a. Instruct the patient to brush their teeth and then rinse with mouthwash for
one minute.
b. Wash hands and wrists at the unit and glove. Once gloved, touch only the
patient and barrier-covered areas or areas that have been cleaned and
disinfected.
2. Charting
Do not touch the record with contaminated gloves. If an entry has to be
made in the record during treatment, an appropriate barrier must be used on
the pen and over the portion of the record that the contaminated glove will
touch. As an alternate, delay making chart entries until the end of treatment.
Another alternative is to us a sterile pencil and note paper, then recopy later.
3. High-speed Evacuation System
When applicable, a high-speed evacuation system should be used and all
possible precautions should be taken when using the high-speed hand piece,
water spray or ultrasonic scaler or during a procedure that could cause
spatter.
4. Three-way syringe
The three-way syringe is hazardous because it produces spatter. Therefore,
caution must be used when spraying teeth and the oral cavity. When used, a
potential for spatter must always be considered and appropriate precautions
taken (for example, use of barrier protection). The use of non-spatter producing
methods of cleansing, such as the use of warm, moist cotton pellets or use of
water before air, is recommended.
5. Dropped instruments
An instrument, arch wire, etc. that is dropped will not be picked up and reused.
If the item is essential for the procedure, a sterilized replacement must be used,
or, in the case of customized arch wires, the wire must be sterilized prior to
replacement in the patient.
6. Disposable items
Used disposable items should be discarded immediately to avoid contamination
of other items. Contaminated waste must be placed in the Biohazard labeled
waste container. All other waste should be placed in the standard waste
container.
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