Sem 9: Hygiene in Dentistry Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to hygiene, sterilization, and disinfection in dentistry.

Antiseptics

Involves the use of procedures aimed at destroying microorganisms or inhibiting their growth (e.g. the application of highly diluted chemicals on wounds, mucous membranes, skin, for hand disinfection)

Aseptics

Procedures preventing infection, involves proper disinfection and sterilization, proper storage of sterile tools and materials, using clean, disinfected tools for each patient, proper destruction of contaminated material, using disposable equipment, using protective clothing, gloves, protective masks and observance of personal hygiene.

Decontamination

The process of removing or killing microorganisms, making materials safe for health. Includes cleaning (sanitization), disinfection and sterilization

Sanitization

The mechanical removal of bacteria from the environment, reducing their number, involves daily cleaning, vacuuming, sweeping, and airing of rooms

Disinfection

The selective elimination of some unwanted microorganisms, a high degree of biological purity is achieved, destroys vegetative forms of bacteria, including tuberculosis bacilli, fungi, viruses

Sporicidal Disinfection

The action of chemical solutions that destroy all forms of microorganisms, including their spores

Chemical Disinfection

Application of chemical substances that inactivate microorganisms. Used for surfaces, medical instruments and equipment, hospital equipment, hospital linens, excreta, infectious waste

The Ideal Disinfectant

Immediate effect at low concentration, wide range of action on microorganisms, without causing an increase in their resistance, good biodegradability, no toxic effect, no smell, high durability of concentrate and solutions, good solubility in water, high tolerance to hard water and organic substances, no corrosive effect, no color and no irritating effect on the skin and low cost

Sterilization

The destruction of all microorganisms, both their vegetative and spore forms (spores)

Sterilization Methods

Steam sterilization, gas sterilization, low-temperature plasma sterilization, thermal sterilization and chemical sterilization

Autoclave Sterilization

Safe, universal, fast, economical, sterilization with saturated steam under increased pressure

Hard-Walled Containers

Sharp waste must be placed in these immediately after use

Hand Washing

Wash hands under running water, use wall dispensers, equipped with a lever for dispensing soap using the elbow or foot pedal

Hygienic Hand Washing

Before and after each activity related to receiving patients, removes visible dirt, blood or other body fluids from the skin surface of the hands and mechanically eliminates spores of organisms, including Clostridium difficile foci, removes about 90% of transient flora

Hygienic Hand Disinfection

Quick removal of transient flora and significant reduction of the number of microorganisms permanently residing on the skin; applied before starting work, in each case of contamination, after changing gloves, before and after the procedure, after finishing work

Surgical Hand Washing

Washing hands, wrists and forearms for 2-5 min and hand disinfection by rubbing in the agent for 3 min, leaving to dry without rinsing or drying with a sterile towel then sterile gloves

Five Steps of Hand Hygiene (WHO)

Before coming into contact with a patient, before starting clean/aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, after contact with a patient and after contact with the patient's environment