I know going to dentist carries a minimal risk for contracting Hiv, Hep B or C. But the risk still exist, so how do you choose which dentist to visit as long as your safety is concerned? I have an appointmen to visit a dentist (new for me) and I don't know should I ask him for the way thy sterelize the instruments, do they use a single-use instruments, or such 'silly' questions will be considered as bad and rude. I am really afraid. What would you suggest to do?
I think you need not feel afraid, for a simple reason: if a dentist were out of compliance with sterilization procedures, they would be in BIG trouble. Same with a hospital if it took to, say, reusing needles. Your risk in seeing a dentist is, as you said, very low. Essentially the only conceivable way of getting a disease that way would be for a previous patient to have had an open wound or blood that got onto an instrument that was not sterilized and then contacted an open wound in your mouth. Saliva won't transmit those viruses (and HIV wouldn't even be an issue as it can't survive out in the open long enough to pass between patients). So, basically, the risk you're talking about is comparable, or honestly, probably a great deal less than your risk in a hospital. And the risks there are exceedingly low -- much more of a theoretical risk than one that actually comes to fruition. Oh, and another idea. If you're concerned, see what you can find out about the dentist. I'd worry if you find reports of faulty practices on his/her part, but otherwise, any decent dentist should leave you with nothing at all to worry about. And if any dentist really were neglectful about sanitation, it would become pretty obvious to people, and not with HIV/Hepatitis, but with glaringly obvious stuff -- bacterial infections would be far more likely, and so poor practices would be caught quickly. And lastly, I think it's not inappropriate to ask about it. I wouldn't interrogate, but going in with a curious mind and just asking about what the risks are and how this dentist maintains hygiene should be perfectly fine. A good dentist should be very capable and willing to explain it.
Hi Georgi, I understand your concerns, but the risk of contracting HIV or any other disease or bacteria is quite low. There are guidelines put in place by the Board of Health etc, that the dentists have to abide by and assessments are carried out at certain times It is usually quite easy to determine if a dentistry is unhygenic. If you see dirt, mould or any substances on any surfaces that look very much out of place, i would be concerned. If the dentists instruments were not clean, if he and his assistant did not use gloves or if you see them handle any potentially unclean objects, like the telephone or food, or even if they visit the bathroom, i'd ask questions. Especially of they then preceeded to put their hands near your mouth. Bacteria breeds easily and if you have any concerns that are rational, i'd ask them how they sterilise their instruments and environment, if they have any complaints, ak about history of the dentist, and research that specific dentist any way you can. Don't go with the first dentist you find in the phone book, just because they're cheaper or closer to your house. Ask for a referral, try to find current or previous patients and ask for advice. Remember! We are talking about your health so no questions you might have are out of the question. Lastly! I want you to read these paragraphs published in Australia regarding dentistry and blood born diseases and others. It is a transcript from the Legislative Council, within the Parliament of NSW, Australia. It is a transcript from HANSARD, which is "the official, complete report of proceedings in a parliament or Legislature". DENTAL INSTRUMENTS STERILISATION AND HIV The Hon. FRANCA ARENA: I ask the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, in her capacity representing the Minister for Health: Are dentists required to follow procedures to ensure that they do not pass the human immunodeficiency virus from patient to patient? Are inspectors visiting dental surgeries to ensure that autoclaving procedures to sterilise instruments are followed? If the Australian Dental Association insists on self-regulation, what assurance can the Government give to the public of New South Wales that a visit to their local dentist does not threaten them with the acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus? The Hon. VIRGINIA CHADWICK: I thank the honourable member for her important question and the concern implicit in it, which I am sure is shared by every member. I regret to say that I do not have the details available to me, but I will seek that advice from my colleague. Honourable members would have noticed that over the past few years dental procedures have changed quite dramatically. On visits to the dentist I have noticed an increased use of gloves, masks and sterilisation equipment and changes in procedure. I am advised that the New South Wales Department of Health has a commitment to the implementation of high standard universal infection control procedures for blood and body substances in all health care settings. In pursuit of this goal the department has been active since 1984 in disseminating and implementing a range of policies and procedures. I am advised by the Department of Health that people using dental services in New South Wales should have no cause for concern about the risk of acquiring blood-borne viral infection as a result of their dental treatment. There is no evidence from anywhere in the world of the risk of patient-to-patient transmission of a viral infection such as HIV or hepatitis B as a result of dental treatment. The New South Wales Department of Health endorses the recent recommendations of the National Health and Medical Research Council on guidelines for the prevention of transmission of viral infection in dentistry. The NHMRC recommends that dentists sterilise handpieces after each patient. Handpieces are commonly sterilised by chemical methods, but although chemical sterilisation is effective, the NHMRC suggests autoclaving as the preferred method. Professional associations such as the Australian Dental Association also endorse these guidelines. The dental profession in Australia has an enviable reputation for excellence in infection control. The New South Wales Department of Health believes that the current recommendations are appropriate and that special regulation by law would be unnecessary. Nonetheless, it should be remembered that good infection control is part of professional practice and that dentists, like all other health professionals, are accountable to their professional registration bodies for maintaining adequate standards of care. However, the New South Wales Department of Health will continue to review any Australian or international evidence of potential viral cross-infection and will act in consultation with professional associations if any regulatory change is required. There have been no studies to date that confirm any cases of transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B or HIV by contaminated instruments in a dental setting. The honourable member may be interested to note that a recent study, reported in the Journal of the American Dental Association, volume 124, of January this year, looked at the cluster of transmissions of HIV in one Florida dental practice and found that the evidence strongly suggested that patient-to-patient transmission of HIV through contaminated instruments did not occur. The Page 2843 study went on to suggest that it is more likely that these patients were directly exposed to the infected dentist's blood by an as yet unexplained mode.
Dont know if this helps, but my dentist's instuments are cleaned with ultra sonic waves which kills all the bacteria etc on them. And as someone else said, if there were complaints about the safety of the dentists, they would be investigated and if these complaints were true they would most pobably be shut down.
A big "Thank you" to dspiel, Trickster and ~peace~. After reading your posts I feel much better and comfortable.
