Dental Infection Control

Question 1

What are standard precautions in dental practice?

Accepted Answer

Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, including PPE, hand hygiene, and sterilization

Answer

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, requiring consistent use of PPE, hand hygiene, and instrument sterilization for every patient.

Question 2

What is an autoclave used for in dentistry?

Accepted Answer

Sterilizing dental instruments using steam under pressure to kill all microorganisms including spores

Answer

An autoclave uses pressurized steam (typically 121°C/250°F at 15 PSI for 15-30 minutes) to achieve complete sterilization of dental instruments.

Question 3

When should dental professionals perform hand hygiene?

Accepted Answer

Before and after each patient contact, after removing gloves, and after touching contaminated surfaces

Answer

Hand hygiene is required at multiple points during patient care to prevent cross-contamination between patients and between contaminated and clean areas.

Question 4

What PPE is required for dental procedures that generate aerosols?

Accepted Answer

Gloves, mask (N95 for high-risk), eye protection, face shield, and protective gown

Answer

Aerosol-generating procedures require comprehensive PPE because aerosolized particles can contain blood, saliva, and potentially infectious microorganisms.

Question 5

What is the proper procedure for handling a sharps injury (needlestick)?

Accepted Answer

Wash the wound immediately, report the incident, identify the source patient, and seek post-exposure evaluation

Answer

Sharps injuries require immediate wound care, incident reporting, source patient evaluation, and post-exposure protocols including possible PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis).

Dental Practice Test

Dental Practice Test

Dental Infection Control