Checklist for dentist: How do you stand at present?

There is nothing secret about infection control and documentation. SmartDentist is committed to help all dentists satisfy their practice administration obligations. We just know that dentists could do this a smarter way!

NOTE: How long to keep documentation – typically 7 years and needs to be legible (p26 ADA Inc)

Document	Requirement or recommendation	Where in my practice?
Medical history form including Latex allergy	ADA Guidelines P28, P35	Reception staff area
Australian Charter for healthcare	ACSQHC + NHMRC P29 P194	Waiting room
Employee training records ( NHMRC)	NHMRC P54, AS 4815 P217	Office
New staff induction Suggested topics: Modes of transmission , risk identification, safe work procedures, correct use of Standard precautions, appropriate attire, PPE, hand hygiene, cleaning, sharps, reporting incidents, waste	NHMRC P216	Office/Online
Pamphlet for patients on infection control (or a process for patient education)	NHMRC P198	Waiting room
Patient feedback form (or a process for feedback)	NHMRC P198	Waiting room
Your own Infection control manual	ADA Inc P13 P29	Online /Staff access area
ADA guidelines on infection control	DBA	Online /Staff access area
AS 4815	DBA	Online /Staff access area
NHMRC	DBA	Online /Staff access area
Validation report	ADA Guidelines P21, AS4815 P54	Office or log book
Performance requalification	ADA Guidelines P21, AS4815 P54	Office or log book
Infection control incident report form	ADA GuidelinesP8, NHMRC P204	Online/ staff access area
Infection control incident management form	ADA GuidelinesP8, NHMRC P204	Online/ staff access area
Batch numbers (to be included in patient records): Steriliser identification code + date + cycle or load number	ADA Guidelines P26, AS 4815 P55	Patient records + sterliser log book
Instructions on appropriate action to take in the event of a sharps injury	ADA Guidelines P12, NHMRC P214	Online/ staff access area
Staff immunisation records	ADA Guidelines P27, NHMRC P208	Office/Online - check out privacy needs
Dental practitioner immunisation records	ADA Guidelines P27, NHMRC P205	Office/Online - check out privacy needs
Disease specific work restrictions and exclusion policy	NHMRC P209	Office/Online
Written report when sharps injury occurs – needs to be signed	ADA Guidelines P37, NHMRC P214	Office/Online - check out privacy needs
Privacy policy	ADA Guidelines P29	Office/Online
Confidentiality policy	ADA Guidelines P29	Office/Online
Sterilizer log book Leak rate test, Bowie dick (porous) /Helix (hollow), Ultrasonic : Each morning Each cycle – Printout ;cycle no, time and date, parameters, any other indicator results Load (only ADA Inc) and unload operator +contents	ADA Guidelines P26, AS4815 P55	Sterilisation room
Strategic plan for infection prevention and control	NHMRC P193	Office/Online
Risk management policy	NHMRC P196	Office/Online
Monitor and review process for policies and procedures (eg. Checklist, log books)	NHMRC P196	Office/Online
Waste transport certificate (example only - seek information from your medical waste company) (subject to state based requirements)	EPA Vic	Office/Online

 

Documentation
Is there an up-to-date practice manual which includes infection control procedures?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST
Is there hard copy/electronic access to the current version of the Australian Dental Association Inc’s ADA Guidelines for Infection Control?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST
Is there hard copy/electronic access to the current version of AS/NZS 4815, Office-based health care facilities – Reprocessing of reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment, and
maintenance of the associated environment or AS/NZS 4187 if applicable?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST
Have all staff of the practice read the documents listed the previous three rows of this checklist and been trained in the protocols?
»YES it is easy for the staff of a SMARTDENTIST
Does the practice have an incident report/ workplace injury book?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST
Are there material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all chemical agents?

Training for dental assistants
Have all dental assistants received training in infection control?
»YES basic training is easy for the staff of a SMARTDENTIST

Premises
Are the premises clean and hygienic?

Personal hygiene
Do all clinical staff know their antibody status?
Find out what is required on SMARTDENTIST
Is there a vaccination record for each member of staff?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST
Is there an allergy record for each member of staff?
»YES for the SMARTDENTIST

Hand hygiene »protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Are there established protocols for hand cleaning before gloving?
Are there established protocols for hand cleaning after degloving?
Is an alcohol-based liquid/gel available for waterless handwashing?

Gloves»protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Are there established protocols for the use and changing of gloves?
Are there established protocols for the disposal of gloves?
What kind of gloves are available:
sterile – latex / non-latex?
non-sterile – latex / non-latex?
Are gloves re-used?
Are there established protocols for changing protective gowns?
Are protective masks changed for each patient, client or consumer?
Is protective eyewear worn by staff?
Is protective eyewear worn by each patient, client or consumer?
Is there an established protocol for dealing with needle-stick and other injuries?

Surgery»protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Does the surgery have defined ‘clean/ contaminated‘ zones?
Are clean sinks used only for handwashing?
Are working surfaces clean and hygienic?
Are there established procedures for dealing with surface disinfection and decontamination?
Are plastic barriers being used appropriately?
Are there established procedures for dealing with contaminated spills?
Are instrument storage areas clean and hygienic?
Are local anaesthetic and other restricted substances stored in lockable storage?
Are there protocols in place for the transfer of instruments/materials IN surgery?
Are there protocols in place for the transfer of instruments/materials OUT of surgery?
Is a rubber dam used for all endodontic procedures, other than a justifiable ’one-off‘ procedure?
Do suitable waste disposal arrangements exist for: sharps?; contaminated material?; liquids? ; amalgam?

Equipment»protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Are there protocols for: anti-retraction valve testing (logbook)?; waterline management? ; suction management? ; sterile procedures? ; air abrasion (aerosol)?; laser hygiene?; Instrument processing
Does the instrument processing area have defined ’clean/contaminated‘ zones?
Are there separate sinks for washing hands and instruments?
Are working surfaces clean and hygienic?

Personal protection»protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Are heavy-duty gloves available?
Are waterproof aprons available?
Are masks available?
Is eye protection available?
Are there protocols and documentation in
place for the use and maintenance of: mechanical washers?; ultrasonic cleaners?; cleaning?
detergents?; degassing?; testing?; log?; manual instrument washing?; underwater?; sterilisable brushes?; cleaning agent?
Is there a protocol for cleaning NiTi endodontic instruments, where appropriate?
After washing and rinsing, are the instruments clean?
Is lint-free cloth used to dry instruments?
Is handpiece maintenance satisfactory?
Are instruments appropriately wrapped or bagged?
Are there protocols for tracking critical instruments?
Are there protocols and documentation in place for the use and maintenance of steam sterilisers, including:
installation qualification?
operational qualification?
performance qualification?
performance qualification report?
air removal/steam penetration?
leak rate/vacuum?
clean chamber?
loading?
printout/observation/class 6 emulator?
chemical indicator?
log book?
load release?
Is the steriliser functioning correctly?
What methods are available for disinfection of instruments: thermal (temperature/time)?, chemical (time)?

Laboratory»protocols in the SMARTDENTIST online infection control manual
Are working surfaces clean and hygienic?
Do suitable arrangements exist for the decontamination of impressions?
Are appropriate barrier techniques employed?
Is appropriate surface disinfection/ decontamination used?
Do suitable arrangements exist for management of buffs, pumice and polishing trays?