Bloodbourne Diseases and Oral Health

Proper oral hygiene is important for every person, and our Dallas dentists can provide the necessary regular care. You shouldn’t interrupt your oral health care because you have a bloodbourne disease, or because you are afraid of getting a bloodbourne disease at your dentist’s office. With today’s modern practice of infection control standards, the risks of passing on your disease or getting a disease at your dentist’s office are extremely low.

What Are Bloodbourne Diseases?

These diseases are transmitted by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who has the disease. Examples of this kind of diseases are AIDS (HIV), Type B and Type C Hepatitis (HBV and HCV) as well as some others. It is possible for both patients and doctors to have these diseases. It is just as important for medical practitioners to keep from getting the disease from their patients as it is for infected practitioners to prevent passing on their disease to patients. We employ proper care that will also prevent patients from getting the disease from another patient through the use of infected equipment.

How is Disease Transmission Prevented?

In the our dentist’s office, transmission of infectious diseases is prevented by routine hand washing, the use of protective barriers like gloves and face shields, and care in the use and proper disposal of tools and needles. These practices protect both patients and the practitioners. Not every patient that has a bloodbourne disease tells that information to his or her dentist, so the dentist and the staff have to act as if every patient may be infected. These infection control measures have been shown to be very effective in preventing transmission of bloodbourne diseases.

What are the Statistics?

Since the start of the use of these standard infection control precautions there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission from a dentist to his patient, a patient to his dentist, or patients to each other through dental treatment.

What Does This Mean For You?

It is safe for you to continue with your oral health routine without fear of passing on or getting a bloodbourne disease like AIDS or Hepatitis. You should get a thorough cleaning every six months and a regular checkup with x-rays every year. If you would like to improve your looks, it is also very safe for you to pursue cosmetic dentistry. Our Dallas dentists can make your smile even more beautiful. Our Dallas teeth whitening services can get your teeth sparkling white again. Don’t neglect your oral health, brush and floss regularly, and find a dentist that you trust to help you keep your teeth healthy. If you have a bloodbourne disease, make sure to disclose that information to your dentist so that he/she can treat any oral health aspects of your condition.