Infection Control & Patient Safety
At Solstice Smiles Dental, your health and safety are always among our highest priorities. We follow comprehensive infection prevention and control practices designed to protect our patients, our team, and our community during every visit.
Infection control is an essential part of modern dentistry—not just during an outbreak or public health emergency, but every day. Our clinical team follows established safety protocols and current recommendations from organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Thorough Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection. Our team follows appropriate hand-washing and hand-sanitizing procedures before and after patient care and whenever otherwise indicated.
Personal Protective Equipment
Our clinical team uses appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and other protective equipment when appropriate for the procedure being performed.
PPE is selected and changed according to the type of care being provided and the potential for exposure to saliva, blood, respiratory secretions, or other potentially infectious materials.
Sterilization of Dental Instruments
Dental instruments that are reusable are carefully cleaned, processed, and sterilized according to established infection control procedures and the manufacturer's validated instructions.
We use appropriate sterilization procedures for patient-care instruments and maintain protocols designed to ensure instruments are properly processed before they are used for another patient.
Cleaning & Disinfection
Our treatment areas and frequently touched clinical surfaces are cleaned and disinfected between patients using appropriate healthcare-grade products and procedures.
Surfaces that are difficult to clean can be protected with disposable barriers, which are changed between patients when appropriate.
Safe Sharps & Injection Practices
We follow established protocols for the safe handling and disposal of needles and other sharps. When injectable medications are administered, our team follows aseptic technique and safe injection practices designed to prevent contamination and infection.
Respiratory Hygiene
Because dental care involves close contact with patients, we maintain appropriate respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette practices. If you are experiencing symptoms of an infectious illness, please let our team know before your appointment.
Depending on your symptoms and the nature of your dental needs, we may recommend rescheduling a routine appointment or making other arrangements to provide care safely.
Protecting Patients & Our Team
Infection prevention works best when everyone participates. Please let us know before your appointment if you are experiencing symptoms of an infectious illness or have been diagnosed with a contagious condition.
Our team will work with you to determine the safest and most appropriate way to proceed with your dental care.
A Safe Dental Visit, Every Time
Infection control is not something we turn on or off based on a particular illness or outbreak. It is part of our everyday approach to providing high-quality dental care.
We are committed to maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment so you can feel comfortable knowing that your health and safety are being carefully considered throughout your visit.
Have questions about our infection control procedures? Our team is happy to answer them. Please contact Solstice Smiles Dental before your appointment.