ADDITIONAL HAZARDS IN THE DENTAL ENVIRONMENT

Additional hazards or safety items are associated with the dental environment. This includes allergens and sensitizing agents, visible light, injury by projectiles, noise, and psychological effects.

Allergens and Sensitizing Agents

Many patients or personnel may be allergic to one or more of the materials used in the DTF. Other individuals may develop allergies or sensitivities from the use or misuse of materials. Dust from poor housekeeping, grinding, or buffing and polishing can become hazards. Chemicals in medicaments or disinfectants, sterilizer solutions, formalin, solvents, acrylic resins, impression materials, radiographic solutions, waxes, cements, unset composites, and sealants are just a few of the many chemical agents that could become hazards.

Visible Light

The use of photo-initiated dental materials has increased dramatically. Many restorative resins, bases/liners, impression materials, and periodontal dressings are now visible light polymerized materials. Repeated exposure to the curing light from the visible light polymerization unit can cause damage to the retina. You should use protective filtering lenses, goggles, or shields when using visible light polymerization procedures. It is also recommended that you do not stare at the light source or reflected light during the polymerization period.

Injury by Projectiles

Patients and staff members can be injured by projectiles or debris generated by cutting, scaling, polishing, or irrigating procedures. Aspiration of projectiles by the patient is also a possible hazard. Actions that prevent projectile injuries include using rubber dams and wearing protective eyeglasses or goggles.

Noise

In the DTF, several devices have the potential to produce noise levels that may cause a hearing loss in exposed personnel. The potential for hearing loss is directly related to the intensity of the noise, the duration of the exposure, and the sensitivity of the individual. The proper use and maintenance of equipment and the proper use of hearing protection, when appropriate, are all important to prevent unnecessary exposure to hazardous noise and the potential for occupational hearing loss.

Psychological Affects

Some aspects of the dental environment have psychological affects on staff and patients. Every effort should be made to maximize the positive psychological affects by optimal use of such interior design features as lighting, wall color, texture, and decoration, furnishings, and floor coverings.

DENTAL EQUIPMENT

It's important for you to understand that as a dental assistant, you are not expected to assume the role of a Dental Equipment Technician (DET). The DET has a Navy Enlisted Classification Code of DT-8732 and is trained to maintain and repair mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic dental equipment; and perform preventive maintenance and electrical safety testing on dental equipment.

To be an effective dental assistant, you must be familiar with the equipment in the DTR. You are expected to:

Recognize the major components of each piece of equipment.

Operate each piece of equipment.

Perform routine user maintenance on equipment.

The first rule for operating and performing user maintenance on equipment is to carefully read the manufacturer's instructions. Copies of this literature should be in the LPO/LCPO's office, or contact the Dental Equipment Repair Division.

TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS

Biomedical and Facilities Systems (BIOFACS)\A centrally-managed automated preventive maintenance system for use by DETs.

Dental Equipment\Consists of devices used in the dental diagnosis, therapy, and treatment of injury or disease. This equipment consists primarily of Federal Supply Classification (FSC) 6500 items. It also consists of similar commercial, nonstandard items used in dental treatment facilities to provide patient care.

Types of Maintenance Requirements (MRs)\ The three types of MRs are as follows:

\Preventive maintenance (PM)\Often called scheduled maintenance, serves to ensure inherent reliability, increase operational availability, and prevent excessive wear of moving parts.

\Unscheduled maintenance (UM)\Often referred to as corrective maintenance for the repair of equipment breakage or malfunctions.

\No maintenance required (NMR)\Applies to equipment that normally requires no scheduled maintenance.

Maintenance Levels\The three maintenance levels are as follows:

\Level I (performance testing)\ Organizational maintenance consists of

operator maintenance that is performed before, during, and after equipment usage. It is the basic maintenance required to keep equipment operating on a daily basis. Procedures usually consist of maintaining fluid levels, simple lubrication, daily inspections, cleaning, and operator calibration checks and adjustments.

\Level II (preventive maintenance)\ Intermediate maintenance relates to scheduled periodic (planned) technical inspection, lubrications requiring disassembly, replacement of worn or deteriorated parts, interior cleaning, calibration verification or adjustment, and verification of Level I performance. Level II maintenance is to be performed by a DET or contracted service.

\Level III\Maintenance consists of maintenance requiring complete overhaul of the item of equipment and is considered depot-level maintenance or equipment manufacturer service center level maintenance. At command discretion, performance of Level III is permitted if parts, personnel with technical expertise, tools, and test equipment, and manhours are available. Level III maintenance will usually result in extension of service life and should be documented in the appropriate service history.