January 4, 2017, Lakewood, Colorado – As restaurants, tattoo parlors, and hair and nail salons undergo regular public health inspections, dentists’ offices in Ontario do not. In the province of Ontario, health inspectors only audit dentists’ offices if a member of the public has made a formal complaint. In recent months, several offices across the province have been brought under investigation for infection prevention and control (IPAC) lapses. Some of the most common violations discovered include the use of expired sanitation products, single-use devices that have been re-used or reprocessed, and improper sterilization equipment.
Sterilization in the dental industry is of the utmost importance and is necessary to provide a safe patient environment. These recent sanitation and sterilization scares suggest that it is time that dentist offices are held to the same standard as restaurants, tattoo parlors, and hair and nail salons.
Sources:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3780579/should-ontario-dental-offices-receive-regular-health-inspections-some-experts-say-yes/
https://globalnews.ca/video/3788463/should-ontario-dental-clinics-be-subject-to-regular-inspections