Patient Protection

In the last few years, patient protection at the dentist’s office has become an issue of public concern. With the discovery of the AIDS (HIV) virus and the medical implications of Hepatitis-B, it has become necessary for health care facilities to consistently apply state-of-the-art sterilization and disinfection techniques to provide patients with maximum protection.
In our office, your safety is our highest priority. Throughout the day, we continuously and thoroughly sterilize our dental care equipment for your health and protection. Our protocol for sterilization includes the following:

• Before and after each patient appointment, all treatment surfaces (e.g., countertops, chair surfaces, lights, x-ray machines, and trays) are disinfected with the most effective and safest products available.
  
  
• To ensure your safety, we follow a number of standard procedures with all dental instruments and hand pieces. First, they are brought into our sterilization room and placed in an ultrasonic cleaner to remove even microscopic debris. The instruments and hand pieces are then rinsed thoroughly before being sterilized in an autoclave, which runs for 35-40 minutes and reaches a temperature of 400-425 degrees, thereby destroying all bacteria and viruses.
  
  
• Our autoclave is monitored regularly to ensure effectiveness and safety.
  
  
• Dental care staff members use masks, safety glasses, and new gloves for each patient.
  
  
• All dental care staff members are updated annually in proper patient protection procedures and have been vaccinated against the hepatitis-B virus. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding patient protection and give you a personal tour of our sterilization facility.
  
  
• In addition, our office features computed digital dental radiography as it is safer because it requires 90% less radiation than conventional film x-rays and because the image can be magnified 300x to reveal hidden problems, thus enhancing diagnosis. It is faster, so the dental team is not wasting time processing and mounting x-ray film and can spend more time with you, discussing the health of your teeth.

For more information on our dentist office call at 410-939-5800 or Contact Us through our dental website.

Dr. Richard Grubb, D.D.S., is an experienced general dentist in dental implants (dentures), cosmetic dentistry, tooth pain and extraction. Dr. Grubb, board certified in implant dentistry, can provide the dental care you and your loved ones need. Dr. Grubb's dental practice is located in the Havre de Grace / Aberdeen area and serves Maryland residents in Harford County and Cecil County.