#infectioncontrol ✨🦷🧚🏻🪥🩷
Being a dental hygienist is more than cleanings and chart notes, we’re also infection control queens 👑 and equipment caretakers 💁🏽♀️
Here’s WHY you should care about your lines, traps, and suction units (yes, even on the busiest days):
🚿 WATERLINES: You have to shock and maintain them regularly. Why? Because without it, biofilm (gross slime made of bacteria) starts to build up. That means you're basically spraying patients with contaminated water. Nope. Not on our watch. 🙅🏽♀️🦠
✨PRO TIP: Use a waterline tester monthly and document it. Keep those bugs out and your water clean!💧
💨 HIGH & LOW SUCTION: Running the suction at the end of the day with a cleaner is a must. Otherwise? Debris, saliva, blood, and sludge build up, and we all know it’s easier to prevent a clog than to fix one. 🤢
🪠 TRAPS: Yes, they’re nasty. Yes, they smell. But changing them is what keeps your op from smelling like a swamp monster lives in your vacuum system 😅
✨PRO TIP: Check with your office how often they need to be changed (weekly or biweekly is typical) and wear gloves, a mask, and goggles when you do it!
🚨 AND HERE’S THE BACKFLOW TEA: If you don’t clean suctions properly or use proper barrier tips, fluids (and bacteria 🦠) can literally flow back into your patient’s mouth during treatment. 🤯 Yup… fluids from other patients too.
NO THANK YOU.
✨Backflow happens when clinicians tell patients to “close around the suction” there’s a pressure change and the contaminated fluid reverses into the tubing or tip, especially if a patient closes their lips around the HVE or saliva ejector. 👉🏼 That’s why single-use backflow-preventing tips (and cleaning your system) are non-negotiables.
This stuff isn’t glamorous, but it’s part of our clinical excellence and patient safety💙
Keep slaying, keep cleaning, and keep protecting that your patients🫧🪥
Being a dental hygienist means you wear many hats, but infection control is one of the most critical roles you play. Maintaining equipment like waterlines, traps, and suction units is not just routine; it's vital to safeguard patient health. Biofilm buildup in waterlines acts as a breeding ground for bacteria, which can be harmful if not addressed regularly. Using a waterline tester monthly ensures these lines are free from contamination and safe for patients. Equally important are high and low suction systems, which if left unchecked, accumulate debris, saliva, and blood, increasing the risk of clogs and infections. Running a suction cleaner daily helps in preventing these issues, ensuring smooth functioning and cleanliness. Traps, though unpleasant to clean, are necessary to remove buildup and smells that can affect the clinic environment. Changing traps on a weekly or biweekly schedule is both a hygiene and comfort measure. One critical yet sometimes overlooked aspect is backflow prevention. Fluids may flow back into a patient’s mouth during treatment if suctions are not cleaned properly or if barrier tips are not used. This backflow can transfer bacteria and fluids between patients, posing significant cross-contamination risks. To avoid this, single-use backflow-preventing tips and routine system cleaning are essential practices. Infection control isn't glamorous but is a cornerstone of clinical excellence and patient safety. It is also a continuous effort, requiring vigilance and adherence to protocols every day, even during the busiest periods. By embracing these best practices, dental hygienists not only protect their patients but also contribute to a healthier and safer clinical environment. Keep breaking bad habits of the past and championing stringent infection control, because ultimately, every detail counts in delivering top-quality care.