For adult patients, barriers include dental anxiety, financial costs of dental treatment, perceived dental need, and lack of access. For younger children, their barriers to dental care will be affected by parents' attitudes and anxiety. Dental barriers are a key component of the dental hygiene workflow and are vital for operative asepsis. Disposable dental barriers and covers offer many advantages in controlling infections, as they help doctors reduce cleaning time and reduce blood and viral cross-contamination.
They also help reduce the use of chemicals, which can help increase the durability of your equipment and furniture. See our full portfolio of Kerr dental barriers, available in a variety of sizes and styles to meet your needs. During the course of a workday, dental health personnel (DHCP) can expect to find a wide range of materials that present the possibility of injury or illness. Droplets containing blood and saliva that result from dental procedures pose a risk of inhalation and contact; sharp and contaminated instruments present a risk of contaminated percutaneous injuries; and chemicals used for dental disinfection and treatment present a risk of inhalation or contact.
Encounters with all of these factors require the use of prudent precautions to avoid hazardous exposures. In addition to reducing the possibility of exposure by replacing them with less hazardous substances and minimizing aerosols and splashes of body fluids, the DHCP must select personal protective equipment appropriate to the type and degree of exposure it expects (table). All chemicals must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) detailing the types of hazardous exposures associated with the product (for example, eye damage, risk of ingestion, skin irritation, etc.) and appropriate protective measures. Many materials used in the manufacture of medical gloves do not protect against exposure to chemicals.
OSHA The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates workplace safety in the United States, either through federal regulations or state-sponsored OSHA programs. In dentistry, one of the areas covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Rule1 is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). There are no specific requirements regarding material types for PPE. Rather, regulations require the employer to evaluate the potential for exposure based on the nature of the procedures that are normally performed in a particular office and to select appropriate protective clothing.
