Overview
This course will describe the interim
recommendations from the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention
(OSAP) for personal protective equipment (PPE) in dental settings. As an
essential component of delivering care that is safe for dental personnel and for
patients, PPE selection, fit, and use are critical. Due to the COVID-19 crisis,
dentistry has been introduced to a new level of PPE; the respirator. This course
will focus on the steps necessary to introduce the use of N95 and other
respirators in dental settings according to OSAP. The speakers will provide
practical tips for developing the OSHA respiratory protection program, including
fit-testing, medical evaluation, and training. Different levels of surgical
masks and how they compare to N95 respirators will be reviewed. In addition, the
course will describe the proper steps for donning and doffing of all PPE.
Presenters
Eve Cuny, MS, Director of Environmental Health and
Safety, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Kathy Ecklund, RDH, MHP, Director
of Occupational Health and Safety and Forsyth Research Subject and Patient
Safety Advocate, The Forsyth Institute
After this course, learners should be able to:
- Provide OSAP’s definition of the type of PPE is
appropriate for various dental procedures and understand the proper steps for
donning and doffing
- Describe the elements of a respiratory protection
program
- Describe the differences between surgical masks and
respirators