Patient perception

There are three groups of people directly involved in dental procedures – dentists, nurses and patients. It is the transfer of micro-organisms between these three groups, which results in cross infection. Since the fear of transmission of HIV and AIDS became prevalent, the public is now much more aware of infection control and its role in preventing the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis, TB and CJD. Armed with this knowledge, patient expectations are higher than ever before.

Case studies have shown that patients have not returned to a practice simply because of the lack of visible signs of infection control. This shows it is important not only that you implement a failsafe infection control policy, but that you are actually seen doing it by the patient. Providing effective infection control and making it visible ensures that your patients feel safe in your care and ultimately means that they won’t be looking elsewhere for their dental treatment.