DANB Dental Unit & Environmental Infection Control Flashcards
6 cards from real DANB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 DANB Dental Unit & Environmental Infection Control flashcards as text
Which air purification method is recommended by the CDC for dental operatories to reduce airborne contaminants?
Answer: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration and proper ventilation
HEPA filtration and proper ventilation are CDC-recommended approaches to reducing airborne particulates and aerosols generated during dental procedures in operatories.
How should dental radiographic equipment (X-ray unit heads, position-indicating devices) be managed for infection control?
Answer: Use surface barriers or clean and disinfect with EPA-registered product between patients
Radiographic equipment including the X-ray tubehead, position-indicating device, and control buttons are clinical contact surfaces requiring barriers or disinfection between patients.
What should be done with single-use items such as saliva ejectors and air-water syringe tips after each patient?
Answer: Discard as clinical or regulated waste per office protocol
Single-use items such as saliva ejectors and air-water syringe tips must be discarded after each patient as they cannot be adequately cleaned and sterilized for reuse.
What is the correct infection control approach for dental handpieces (high-speed, low-speed)?
Answer: Heat sterilize (autoclave) between patients
Dental handpieces that enter the mouth must be heat sterilized (autoclaved) between patients because the internal mechanisms can become contaminated and chemical disinfection is insufficient.
Environmental surfaces in a dental office are divided into which two categories for infection control purposes?
Answer: Clinical contact surfaces and housekeeping surfaces
Dental environmental surfaces are classified as clinical contact surfaces (touched during patient care, requiring disinfection/barriers) and housekeeping surfaces (floors, walls, requiring routine cleaning).
Which level of disinfection is appropriate for clinical contact surfaces in a dental operatory?
Answer: Intermediate-level disinfection (EPA-registered, tuberculocidal)
Clinical contact surfaces require intermediate-level disinfection using EPA-registered, tuberculocidal disinfectants, which are effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens including mycobacteria.