Background: Despite the fact that numerous regulations have been issued and periodically changed, many dental laboratories still practise subpar cleanliness, indicating the necessity for stricter regulatory methods. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the practises and knowledge of dental technicians and dental assistants, both trained professionals and students, in dental clinics and laboratories in Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate the understanding and use of infection control procedures, including the usage of gloves, safety goggles, taking lab impressions, and disinfecting impressions of the targeted population, a self-administered, closed-ended questionnaire was created, and 500 people made up the estimated sample, which was determined using the results of the pilot study and previously published studies.
Results: Nearly all participants reported following infection control practices, such as wearing gloves, mouth masks, and protective eye shields, as well as using proper disposal systems for waste. A high percentage (96.4%) reported having received vaccination against the hepatitis B virus. A majority of participants reported disinfecting the prosthesis/denture before sending it to the clinic (96.4%) and using disinfectant in the pumice slurry (96.9%). However, a small number of participants (2.4-3.6%) reported not following certain infection control practices. The number of impressions received per week varied across the different age ranges, and the majority of participants used plastic bags to carry impressions from the dental clinic to the laboratory. The most common method of disinfection was immersion, with over 90% of participants reporting this practice.
Conclusion: The majority of participants said they were aware of the various infection control strategies that should be used, and most said they were putting them into practise every day at work. However, some participants claimed they did not adhere to certain infection control procedures, which is worrying. Particularly for individuals who reported not adhering to specific infection control practises, these findings may be helpful in developing policies aimed at enhancing infection control procedures in dentistry laboratories.
Keywords: Dental technician, Dental assistant, Infection control, Dental laboratory.
