While you may think of healthcare facilities like hospitals and dental clinics as a safe place to seek medical help, they are not immune to mishaps like falls and fire. According to a report, an average of 5,700 fires are reported annually in hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the U.S. If you are running a clinic, ensuring a safe environment for the well-being of your patients and staff is paramount.
According to a study, around 24% of dental patients feel moderate anxiety, and 11.4% feel high anxiety when visiting a dentist. The fear of other hazards further adds to the experience. In this article, we will discuss the safety aspects dental clinics must address, from equipment maintenance to fire safety, to put patients at ease.
1. Fire Hazards in Dental Clinics
According to NFPA, local fire departments responded to around 1.5 million fires in the U.S last year. Healthcare facilities like dental clinics are more prone to structural fires because of various factors. These include faults in electrical equipment like dental chairs or sterilizers, the use of flammable liquids like alcohol-based disinfectants, and human error.
Regular fire risk assessments are crucial to identifying potential hazards and evaluating safety measures. It’s essential to have a fire prevention system in place to offer a safe space to patients. However, dentists must avoid AFFF-based fire prevention systems. While very effective at putting out even stubborn flammable liquid fires, AFFF has been linked to multiple health concerns.
According to TorHoerman Law, AFFF contains per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, with significant health and environmental impacts. Thousands of civilians, firefighters, and industrial workers, who have been exposed to AFFF, have suffered from various cancers, heart diseases, and congenital disabilities.
An AFFF lawsuit is in progress in the U.S., alleging that the makers of AFFF were aware of the dangers but did nothing to warn the public. Defendants in the lawsuit are seeking compensation for the damage caused and holding the makers accountable.
Apart from employing a safe fire prevention system, dental practitioners must strategically place fire extinguishers throughout the clinic. Lastly, smoke detectors must be in all areas, and all emergency exits must be marked and unobstructed.
2. Fall Safety
Most people tend to visit the dentist regularly after crossing a certain age threshold to stay on top of their oral health and hygiene. This makes it the responsibility of dental clinics to ensure safe premises for geriatric patients’ safety. This is more crucial because, according to a study, people aged 65 years or older are more prone to fall-related severe injuries.
Your dental clinics must have clear pathways without any obstacles or tripping hazards. Additionally, the flooring should have non-slip material, especially in spill-prone zones. Consider installing handrails in washrooms and along the pathways to provide additional support.
3. Infection Control
The dangers of cross-contamination among patients, dentists, and ancillary staff in dental practice are pretty significant. This is why around 60% of dentists confirmed strictly adhering to using personal protective equipment (PPE) in routine dental practice. These include gloves (new ones for each patient), surgical masks, protective gowns, and safety glasses.
Dentists and their staff must also practice proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infection to patients. It should be a common practice to wash hands with soap and water before and after patient interaction and after removing gloves. Additionally, OSHA suggests that healthcare professionals use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with an alcohol content between 60% and 95%.
Lastly, dental clinics must properly clean instruments with enzymatic cleaners or ultrasonic baths to remove organic matter. After cleaning, the equipment should be dipped in a high-level disinfectant solution. Once cleaned and disinfected, the tools must be sterilized using steam and appropriately stored in sterile pouches in a dry, clean environment.
4. Staff Training and Awareness
Dentists must organize regular staff training sessions to maintain a safe and secure dental clinic environment. These sessions should cover a wide range of topics, from fire safety and infection control to patient safety and emergency response procedures. By providing comprehensive and up-to-date training, clinics can ensure that their staff can handle any emergency that might present itself.
Apart from formal training sessions, clinics must consider ongoing awareness programs to prioritize patient safety. These programs might include regular refreshers and periodic newsletters about specific safety topics.
Many people find a visit to a dentist’s clinic one of their most vulnerable moments. Any impending safety hazards might cause their anxiety levels to spiral out of control. Therefore, it’s imperative for dental clinics to have a safe environment to put their patients at ease and allow them to focus on their treatment and recovery.