Clinico-statistical study regarding prevention of infections in dental offices by impressions decontamination

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the knowledge and universal application of decontamination methods of impressions in dental practices. Material and method. The study involved 131 persons (dentists and dental students at Faculty of Dental Medicine). All the participants completed a questionnaire regarding the knowledge of transmission risk and rates of infections agents through dental impressions and the importance of different methods of decontamination. Results. Most of the subjects (93.89%) are aware of classical safe standard to achieve infection control in dental office. The youngest ones are well instructed in dental school. Most of the participants concluded that there is a risk of transmission of infectious agents through different devices (impressions, prosthetic components) are sent out of the practice. Still only 35.11% of the respondents use a decontamination process of impressions. Among these (46 subjects), only 25 of them follow a well-conducted decontamination protocol. Many of the subjects consider that the infections risk of dental devices is minor and the decontamination procedure only makes the technological process more difficult. Conclusions. Dental practitioners consider that there is a minor risk of person-to-person transmission of infectious through dental devices. Doctors and technicians as well do not use a multi-step process of decontamination, because it makes the workflow more difficult.

Keywords

• decontamination
• infectious agents
• impression