INFECTION CONTROL: An area of focus in dental practice

Media attention in recent times has put a spotlight on breaches in infection control standards in dental practices, causing public worry and fear.   As an infection control educator in Australia and New Zealand, I cannot emphasize enough how this should be at the forefront of every dental health provider’s mind.

The good news is that the Dental Board of Australia has strict guidelines on infection control that outline how to prevent or minimise the risk of spreading infectious diseases in dental practice.  This is readily available for all dental practitioners to implement, therefore there’s no excuse for them not to have one in place. 

As a patient, you have the right to know whether your dentist is compliant with these guidelines or not, so that you can be confident that your health is not at risk.

Standard Precautions of Infection Control in the Dental Practice

• Hand Hygiene: Since hands are the most common mode of disease transmission, it is important that your practitioner regularly cleans his/her hands before and after patient treatment.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This involves wearing of gloves, masks, gowns, protective eye wear for the health care worker, and protective eye wear for the patient. This is to protect the skin and the mucous membranes from exposure to infectious or potentially infectious materials in spray or splatter.

• Environmental Surfaces: Dental health care providers must know the contaminated zones and clean zones within the operatory area. Contaminated areas must be cleaned and disinfected following every patient’s treatment.

• Patient Care Equipment: This includes reprocessing of instruments that must comply with Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 4815 “All steps necessary to make a contaminated reusable device ready for its intended use”. Each reusable instrument must be cleaned, inspected, sterilised using steam sterilisers (also knows as “autoclave”) and stored in a clean, dry place. This process needs to be monitored and if possible, tracked regularly. Any disposable single-use items must be disposed of after use.

• Injury Prevention: This involves the handling of sharps, contaminated waste, and the management of spills and potentially infectious matter.

Our sterilisation bay

where each instrument goes through a stringent process to ensure the safety and health of our patients.

It is imperative that all dental practices have infection control protocols in place.  It is an obligation by law that each registered dental practitioner complies with the standards.

At New Leaf Dentists, we take our infection control very seriously and have stringent protocols to ensure we continuously comply with Australian Standards.

I hope that this information will guide you in knowing what to expect from your preferred dentist in the area of infection control.

'Til next time!

Dr. Rouel Vergara DMD

The Importance of Optimum Oral Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting moments in a woman’s life. I personally can attest to this fact as I was able to experience my wife’s excitement and joy during all her 3 pregnancies. 

But did you know that pregnancy could lead to dental problems in some women? One of the most commonly overlooked pre-natal assessments is oral health. Based on recent studies, it was estimated that only between 22-34% of women consult a dentist during pregnancy. Just for the record, pregnancy itself doesn’t damage your teeth automatically. 

So what are the most common oral health problems during pregnancy? 

Pregnancy Gingivitis

This is considered as the most common oral disease in pregnancy. About 60-75% of pregnant women develop this condition. It is also estimated that half of these figures are pre-existing. During pregnancy, the combination of changes in oral environment and levels of female hormones can lead to decrease in immune system in the mouth leading to redness and swelling of the gums.

Periodontitis (Gum Disease)

Periodontitis is an irreversible condition that affects both jawbone and gums. This oral disease is more destructive compared to gingivitis. Additionally, this disease affects approximately 30% of women of childbearing age. Recent studies have also shown a direct link between gum disease and pre-term birth as well as low birth weight.

Dental Decay

Changes in female hormones and oral environment can result in increased acidity in the mouth. This can lead to demineralization (softening) of the tooth surface and resulting in cavitation (holes).

Pregnancy Oral Tumor

Pregnancy oral tumors are localized infection caused by increased levels of hormone (progesterone) and irritants (e.g. plaque, bacteria, etc.).  Although this oral disease is not as common as gingivitis, pregnancy oral tumor can affect 5% of pregnant women.

So if you are an expecting mum or if you are planning on getting pregnant, here are my top 5 professional recommendations:

1.    Prevention is better than cure. Include “Visit the dentist” on your to do list. It is more ideal to do dental elective procedures before getting pregnant.

2.    Make sure you have an excellent oral hygiene regimen. You are less likely to have dental problems if you already have good oral hygiene. 

 3.    Minimize high sugar food intake and consider a low-sugar diet instead. This will decrease the risk of dental decay.

 4.    Increase your Calcium and Vitamin D intake during pregnancy. These will assist in protecting your bone mass and provide nutritional needs to your developing baby.

 5.    Quit Smoking! Smoking will increase the risks of oral diseases such as gum disease. In addition, smoking also has a direct negative impact on your baby’s health.

If you have any additional queries and have concerns about pregnancy and oral health, it is highly recommended that you seek professional dental advice as soon as possible.

Dento-Facial Makeovers: What is it?

As we see it, a smile is not just about the teeth. 

Our whole face consists of skin, muscles and soft tissues that move constantly. Everyday exposure to different elements and pollution add to the wear and tear of facial skin. Unfortunately, this wear and tear can result to unpleasant features etched in our skin.  Wrinkles, lines, grooves and depressions are the battle scars of life. They are the result of decreased production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid that help support and provide volume to our skin.

The interplay between the mouth and surrounding structure of the face is responsible for the harmonious appearance of your face as a whole.

A dento-facial aesthetic makeover is about enhancing your smile by restoring the natural beauty of your facial structure using safe, minimally invasive techniques and materials.  This is done through facial injectables such as Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTx-A) a purified natural protein that is injected into the skin to work on the underlying muscles of the face (ie. anti-wrinkle injections that relax the muscles and allow the skin to become smooth and more youthful-looking, such as areas of the forehead, frown lines, crows feet, smoker's lines, bunny nose and minimising a gummy smile).  Another way to enhance your look is through dermal fillers in the form of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which help hydrate and provide volume to our skin to keep it looking young (ie. lip fillers, filling lines and grooves and sunken areas of the face). 

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Consultation with Dr. Vergara

Why choose a dentist for your facial enhancements?

This is simply because a dentist’s training and expertise is all about the understanding of facial structures and anatomy. Knowing where all the nerves, blood vessels and muscles in the face are crucial to not only achieving the desired results, but also avoiding potential complications. 

If you have further queries regarding dento-facial makeovers and how it can improve your smile and overall appearance, I highly recommend you to talk to a certified dento-facial aesthetic provider, such as Dr. Rouel Vergara and Dr. Benjamin Barrera here at New Leaf Dentists.

Oral Health and Cancer

February 4, 2016 was World Cancer Day.  Its theme, “We Can .I Can.”, focuses on how every individual can play a role in decreasing the burden of cancer.  As a dental health professional, it is important that we provide and increasecommunity awareness about cancer.

According to Dr Peter Aldritt, Chair of the ADA’s Oral Health Committee, “We urge cancer patients and people living with cancer to be aware of the possible oral health side effects that could arise during and after treatment. There are a number of simple things that patients can do to make their experience of treatment that little bit easier.”  

Receiving cancer treatment will always be the main priority for a patient. However, it is important that cancer patients seek consultations with their dentist about their diagnosis as soon as they can. It is essential that a thorough full oral health assessment is done prior to undergoing cancer treatment. It is always advisable that patients have healthy teeth and gums before commencing their cancer treatment.

The most common side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the following:

1.      Ulcers in the mouth

2.      Gum infections

3.      Bleeding gums

4.      Dry mouth

5.      Altered taste

Unfortunately for patients, these oral complications may last for months or years. These can cause discomfort and pain for some. 

Here are a few simple tips that can minimise oral health discomfort:

1.      Keep mouth moist by sipping water frequently

2.      Minimise caffeine intake such as coffee or tea – reduces dehydration

3.      Avoid sugary food and drinks

4.      Avoid acidic food and drinks

5.      Avoid hard, dry, spicy food

6.      Chew sugar-free gum – helps stimulate saliva in the mouth

7.      Use dry mouth gel or spra

If you have any further questions and concerns about how cancer and its treatment can affect your oral health, I highly recommend that you seek professional dental advice as soon as possible.

Dr. Rouel Vergara DMD