What is proper procedure?

  Hi Dr! I am having a hard time visiting the dentist for fear that I will aquire an infectious disease through improper sanitation methods. Can I trouble you to inform me on what is proper cleaning methods between patients? Are the chairs disinfected? (They seem like germ central) How about handles and other things that the doctor/hygeinist touches? Lastly, instruments and the bowl that you spit in and the spot where the water comes out to rinse with? Do I have cause for concern? I appreciate your time. Thank you very much!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

There's quite a few things that are done for the cleaning of a dental operatory.  

So just in a nutshell cause all offices may be slightly different in how they handle thing, I'll give you a general idea of how its done.

The dental chair usually has a chair cover (plastic wrapping) so it keeps it clean.  The lights, handles, etc that are touched are usually covered with barrier wraps (like a giant piece of tape) or bags.  These are all disposed of and thrown away.  The handles and chairs are then wiped clean with a disinfectant and then sprayed again.  The sink bowl, if you want to avoid it, can be done.  We don't have sink bowls where I work, we use the suction and of course, throw those suction tips away after we're done.  Any dental work such as an extraction also requires to run some bleach through them to clear them up.  All instruments are sterilized in an auto-clave.  Its heated and pressure cooked.  

[DJ873]

i just went to a dentist yesterday and they were still cleaning the chair, etc when i went in. Do they still use bowls? mine doesnt' they change the little thing that ***** the liquid out of your It seemed very sanitary but i will leave that for the drs. just happened to stumble upon your post when i was posting to thank them for their encouragement

[ripley13]

Thanks for clearing things up! If you could just explain what you meant by, "the sink bowl,if you want to avoid it, can be done"? Confused me a bit. Should I avoid it? Thanks again Doc.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

They usually spray it down and wipe it also but if you're afraid of it or aren't comfortable with it, just go ahead and ask them to use the suction instead to get rid of any spit.