HOSA "Dental Terminology" - Chapter 5

Acute

Immediate symptoms, such as high fever and pain or distress

Chronic

Describes a condition present over a long time, often without an endpoint

Remission

Temporary or permanent cessation of a severe condition

Endemic

A problem that belongs to a particular people or country, and is ongoing

Exogenous

Refers to causes outside the body, such as illnesses arising from trauma, radiaion, or hypothermia

Endogenous

Refers to causes from within the body, such as infections, tumors, or congenital abnormalities

Congenital

Refers to conditions inherited from parents, such as cystic fibrosis

Degenerative

Refers to the conditions resulting from natural aging of the body, such as arthiritis

Opportunistic

Refers to disease or infection occurring with the body resistance is lowered, such as fungal, bacterial, and viral infection

Nosocomial

Refers to disease passed on from patient to patient in healthcare setting, "Hospital-acquired infections"

Spore

A thick-walled reproductive cell of bacteria

Bacteria principal forms:

Oval/rounded, rod-shaped, spiral/curved

Droplet infection

Airborne infection in which pathogens discharged from the mouth or nose by coughing or sneezing are carried through the air and settle on objects

Indirect infection

infection resulting from improper handling of contaminated inanimate substances that absorb and transmit infection, such as doorknobs or bedding

Direct contact infection

Infection that is passed directly from person to person through contact with saliva, blood, or mucous membranes

Parenteral entry

refers to piercing of the skin or mucous membrane, also called "needle stick"

Carrier infection

Exchange of disease by direct or indirect contact with an infected human or animal that does not have symptoms of a disease

Vector-borne infection

An infection that is transmitted by and organism such as a fly or mosquito

Food, soil, water infections

Infections passed along by microbes present in food, soil, or water

Critical sterilization

Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or bone, or enter the bloodstream. These include forceps, scalpels, scalers, chisels, and surgical burs. Steam under pressure (autoclave), dry heat, or heat/chemical vapor sterilization are suggested

Semi-critical

Instruments that do not penetrate soft tissues or bone but contact the mucous membrane or non-intact skins. High-level infection disinfection is appropriate if heat/pressure/chemical is not feasible

Noncritical

Instruments that come into contact with intact skin. such as blood pressure cuffs and x-ray heads. Hospital disinfectants are acceptable.

Autoclave

Steam pressure, 250° F, 20 minutes

"Flash" autoclave

Smaller autoclave with high temperature setting & lowered time. 270° F, 3-5 minutes

Dry heat sterilization

oven apparatus used for a hot air bake at high temp, 340° F, 2 hours

Molten heat or glass bead heat

Devices holding super-heated molten metal or small glass beads; used mainly in endodontic practice, 450° F

Chemical vapor sterilization

Use of chemicals and heat, noncorrosive method that is used on loose or unwrapped articles (particularly metals), 270° F, 20 minutes

Cassette tray

Used to contain instrument setups that travel from operatory use to the ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing, and wrapping and storage until the next use. Cassettes are color-coded to match procedures

PPE

Personal protective equipment (gloves, face shields, masks, etc) to protect from disease microbes

SOP

Standard operating procedures, Handling and storage of dental equipment methods, use of evacuation methods, rubber dams, and preoperative rinse of oral cavity with mouthwash ("universal methods")

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

CDC

Center for Disease Control (and prevention)

EPA

Environment Protection Agency

OSAP

Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures