Sanitary procedures have always been of the utmost importance in your practice.
First and foremost, these efforts protect patients and staff from potential infections. It also reflects your overall professionalism as a healthcare provider. And it gives you peace of mind in knowing you’re doing things the right way.
But with changing times come new standards and expectations. The pandemic has made many industry professionals ramp up their cleaning and sterilization efforts, whether with mechanical equipment or PPE.
One example of these crucial in-practice safety/sanitary procedures is sterilizing and maintaining your face shield. As of 2021, face shields are a necessity for dental practitioners, and they require specialized cleaning and sterilization protocols.
Before the pandemic, not much was known about face shield sterilization because not many dentists wore them. So, in response to this new industry standard, DentistryIQ established some best practices so face shields can be used safely and maintained for long-term usage:
DentistryIQ also points out that all ammonia-based household cleaners should be avoided. Similarly, don’t use glass-cleaning products.
The types of cleaners mentioned above damage the plastic on your shield, causing the unremovable clouding of surfaces.
Toothpaste and other commercial cleaners that contain grit will cause damage to the shield as well. Moreover, paper towels cause microscopic scratches and should be avoided.
Run a compatibility test to ensure a disinfectant won’t cause damage by applying a small amount of the cleaner at the edge of the face shield. You can test somewhere else on the shield; just ensure it isn’t in your line of sight.
Most generic, consumer-grade face shields aren’t designed to meet a dentist professional’s needs. They have a thin piece of plastic, attached to a headband, that hangs in front of the face. Unfortunately, this allows droplets to escape and breach the area between the shield and face.
High-quality face shields like the Canadian Shield face shield ensures these gaps are covered, using a flanged perimeter traveling ear-to-ear, over the forehead, and beneath the chin. The all-plastic construction of the Canadian Shield makes it easy to sanitize and reuse. It is designed to be both comfortable and compatible with other personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks and safety goggles.
Contact us to learn more about the Canadian Shield and other PPE solutions for your dental office.