Infection Control Mechanisms Employed by Dental Laboratories to Prevent Infection of their Dental Technicians/Technologists

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the compliance to infection control of various dental laboratories in Durban.

Study design: This was a qualitative survey.

Setting: Dental laboratories in Durban area, South Africa.

Subject: Registered laboratory technicians.

Study methodology: Convenient random sampling method was used.

Results: There was poor compliance to infection control procedures by most dental laboratories. Majority, 66.67%, of the dental laboratories relied on dental clinics for disinfection of dental impressions; therefore, they did not disinfect the impressions. On the other hand, only 33.33% carried out disinfection of dental impressions on their own. A high number (53.3%) of the respondents had disinfection areas within their dental laboratories, 6.7% had no disinfection areas while 40% depended upon dental clinics for all disinfections. About 60% of the dental technicians had valid vaccinations against Hepatitis B Virus while 40% had no vaccination against HBV. Read more......