Module 3 BBP ans OSHA

What puts a dental assistant at risk of exposure to disease agents?

Contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials.

How can risk of disease transmission in the dental office be minimized?

By carefully following infection control and safety guidelines.

What is direct transmission of disease?

Occurs when someone comes into direct contact with infectious lesions or body fluids (blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions).

What is indirect transmission of disease?

Transfer of organisms via contaminated instruments or surfaces, then touching face, eyes, or mouth.

What is parenteral transmission?

Through needle stick injuries, human bites, cuts, abrasions, or breaks in skin.

What is blood-borne transmission?

involves Direct or indirect contact with blood and other body fluids.

How does food and water transmission occur?

From contaminated food (not cooked/refrigerated properly) or water contaminated with fecal material.

What is fecal-oral transmission?

Occurs when handwashing/sanitation is not followed; pathogens in fecal matter spread via hands, food, or surfaces.

What provides resistance to communicable diseases in the body?

The immune system.

What is a communicable disease?

A disease transmitted easily from one person to another or via body fluids.

What is inherited immunity?

Immunity present at birth. (from the mother)

What is acquired immunity?

Immunity developed during a person’s lifetime.

What is naturally acquired immunity?

When a person contracts and recovers from a disease.

What is the difference between naturally acquired active immunity and passive immunity.

Active: when one gets a disease and produces memory cells

Passive: when one gets antibodies from the mother while in the placenta

What is artificially acquired immunity?

Antibodies introduced through immunization or vaccination.

What is the difference between artificially acquired active immunity and passive immunity?

Active: reciving a vaccination to get immunity

Passive: reciveing a antiserum with antibodies from someone else/host

What are the 4 basic processes that oral pathogenic agents result from?

Bloodborne diseases, oral diseases, systemic disease with oral lesions, respiratory diseases.

What is hepatitis?

Inflammation of the liver caused by viruses (A–E), infection, drug reactions, or alcohol overuse.

What are the functions of the liver?

Processes nutrients, neutralizes toxins (“chemical factory”).

describe the difference between acute and chronic diseases.

Acute: short-lived but painful (liver is able to regenerate)

Chronic: Long lasting with minimal symtoms (can lead to liver damage)

What is a major symptom that gives hepatitis away

Jaundice: yellowing of the eyes, skin etc.

Which hepatitis types are NOT blood-borne?

Hepatitis A and E.

How are Hepatitis A and E transmitted?

Fecal-oral route through contaminated food/water and poor sanitation. Is an acute illness

Is Hepatitis A an occupational hazard for dental workers?

No, vaccination is not recommended.

How is Hepatitis B (HBV) transmitted?

Through direct and indirect contact with sharp (injuries) or mucous membranes.

What’s the percentage of risk of contracting HBV for dental health care workers? (DHCW)

• High risk

• 30% transmission

What percent of Hepatitis B infections are acute vs chronic carriers?

90% acute, 10% chronic carriers.

How long can Hepatitis B survive outside the body?

Up to 7 days at room temperature. Is killed with sterilization and disenfection but is one of the hardest to kill

What makes Hepatitis B difficult to kill on surfaces?

It is a spore-forming virus.

What are common symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Jaundice, Light colored stool, dark urine, joint pain, fever, rash and itching

1/3. have no symp

When do Hepatitis B symptoms appear after exposure?

45 to 180 days after exposure.

Is there a cure for Hepatitis B?

No. Only prevention through vaccination.

How is the Hepatitis B vaccine administered?

At 0, 1, and 6 months.

What is Hepatitis C?

A viral infection affecting the liver, spread primarily through blood contact.

What is the most common bloodborne infection in the U.S.?

Hepatitis C.

Is there a vaccine for Hepatitis C?

No.

How long can Hepatitis C survive outside the body?

Up to 6 weeks at room temperature. Does not have a high contracting percentage

What is Hepatitis D?

Occurs only in people with Hepatitis B (“co-infection”). 

• if u have hep B you may not have hep D but all who have Hep D have Hep B

How is Hepatitis D spread?

IV drug use and sexual activity.

How can Hepatitis D be prevented?

Hepatitis B vaccine.

How is HIV (Human Immunodeficiancy Virus) transmitted?

Sexual contact (semen, vaginal fluids), exposure to blood, and perinatal contact.

What can HIV lead to?

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

What is the DHCP risk of contracting HIV after exposure?

0.3%.

What are oral manifestations of AIDS?

• Fungal lesions:  Candidiasis,

• Viral lesions: herpes simplex, herpes zoster, HPV,

• Becterial lesions: periodontal disease,

• non-Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer)

• , ulcers, xerostomia (dry mouth), salivary gland disease, Kaposi sarcoma.

What is the family of viruses that are DNA viruses that cause diseases?

Human Herpesviruses (HHVs).

What is unique about herpes viruses?

They establish lifelong latency and can reactivate.

How many types of HHVs exist?

Eight

What does HSV-1 cause?

Oral herpes (cold sores).

How is HSV-1 transmitted?

Saliva, direct contact with lesions.

What triggers HSV-1 reactivation?

Stress, UV exposure, fever.

What does HSV-2 cause?

Genital herpes.

How is HSV-2 transmitted?

Sexual contact, direct contact with sores.

Where does HSV-2 remain latent?

Sacral nerve ganglia.

What does Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) cause? (HHV-3)

Chickenpox and shingles.

How is VZV (HHV-3) transmitted?

Airborne droplets, direct contact with vesicles. (is usually a one in a lifetime thing and then lies dormant)

What are symptoms of chickenpox?

Itchy rash, fever, malaise.

What are symptoms of shingles?

Painful, localized rash along nerve pathways.

What does Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) (HHV-4) cause?

Mononucleosis (Mono), Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

How is EBV transmitted?

Saliva (“kissing disease”).

What are EBV oral manifestations?

Palatal petechiae, oral erythema (redening) , swollen uvula.

What does Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (HHV-5) cause?

Congenital infections, retinitis in immunocompromised, mononucleosis-like illness.

How is CMV transmitted?

Saliva, urine, breast milk, blood, organ transplants.

What does HHV-6 cause?

Roseola infantum.

What does HHV-7 cause?

Roseola-like illness, fever syndromes.

What does HHV-8 ( Kaposi sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus) cause?

Kaposi sarcoma, AIDS-related lymphomas.

What causes oral syphilis?

Treponema pallidum. ( 5-10% begin in the mouth)

Is treated with antibiotics

What is the initial phase of syphilis?

Painless sore called a chancre.

What are oral signs of secondary syphilis?

Mucous patches on oral mucosa.

What is the tertiary phase of syphilis?

Non-contagious but causes organ damage, dementia, vision and muscle problems.

What causes gonorrhea?

Neisseria gonorrhoeae. (a bacteria tus causinga bacterial infection)

What are oral symptoms of gonorrhea?

Burning throat, swollen glands, red palate patches (petechiae).

What is the risk of HIV with gonorrhea?

Increased risk.

How is gonorrhea treated?

Antibiotics.

What is hand-foot-and-mouth disease?

Viral infection with lesions on cheek, mucosa, tongue; mainly affects children.

How is hand-foot-and-mouth disease spread?

Highly contagious; spreads quickly in schools and daycares.

What is the role of immunization in infection control?

Prevents disease transmission and is part of infection control plans.

Which important vaccines are missing for dentistry?

Hepatitis C, HIV type 1, TB, some herpes viruses.

What are common required vaccines for dental healthcare workers?

MMR (childhood) , Tetanus(every 10 years), Influenza (anually), Hepatitis B.

What agencies regulate infection control in dentistry?

CDC and OSHA.

Is the CDC a regulatory agency?

No, it provides recommendations.

Is OSHA a regulatory agency?

Yes, it sets and enforces standards.

protects the employees

• enforces that every dental professional gets training for this every year

What is th main thing OSHA does?

• protect employees that are exposed to blood-borne pathogens

• protect employees that are exposed to hazardous chemicals.

What is the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BBP)?

The most important infection control law in dentistry, protects employees from bloodborne pathogens.

Where must a copy of the BBP be kept?

In every dental office and clinic.

What must an exposure control plan include ( SOP: standard operating procedures)?

Risks, what to do, reporting, protections, follow-up.

What are the 5 key elements of OSHA’s hazard communication standard?

• Materials inventory (list of hazardous materials) ,

• SDS (safety data sheets),

• labeling ,

• training,

• written program (has the previous elements in writing) called WHCP (written hazard communication program).

What is medical waste?

Trash from treatment, only a small % is infectious.

what is infectious waste?

waste that is capable of tansmitting disease. (most commonly found in dentritry)

What is regulated waste?

Infectious waste requiring special disposal (sharps

Pathologic wastes:teeth, tissues,

soaked gauze).

How must sharps be discarded?

Immediately in closable, leak-proof, puncture-resistant, clearly labeled, accessible containers.

What are engineering controls?

Safety devices like sharps containers, self-sheathing needles.

• was engeneered/ made

What are work practice controls?

Altering procedures to reduce exposure (e.g., no two-handed recapping, #1. reason for injuries in dentistry).

How should needles be recapped?

With single-handed scoop technique or safety device.

What must hazardous material labels include?

Product name, warning statement/symbol, safe handling instructions, manufacturer info.

What does GHS stand for?

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

How many sections are in an SDS?

Sixteen

Explain the colors on a NFPA diamond

Red: flamability hazard

Blue: Health hazard

White: special hazard

Yellow: intability hazard

What PPE must employers provide?

Gloves, masks, eyewear, protective gowns.

Who pays for PPE cleaning/disposal?

The employer, at no cost to employees.

What are common chemical hazards in dentistry?

Disinfectants, etchants, nitrous oxide, acrylics, mercury, solvents, alginate, gypsum, radiographic chemicals.