[chickapea116]

Hi,.sadly the Hep C (the silent killer) could be contracted through dental tools but, after hours and hours of searching the net I couldn't nail a study or statistic about Heptatitis C transmission through dental tools, and I feel like such important aspect is not really covered. I really wish to know how often such scary incident of Hep C transmission happen in America and specially in a place like California.



Does anyone know a link or website or share his own knowledge about Heptatis C transmission through dental tools. Also as a person who lives in the united states I know that there is some high level of dental sterilization at least for the majority of dental offices. but what's the safety net for any breach in such standards...I mean how often they are scanned or visited by health officials to check the quality of sterilization in a given dental office. Can anyone explain how the sterilization inspection happens and how often does it happen? Does the insurance companies send inspectors to report any violation? thanks in advance.

[jenna m]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nasty

[just a gorilla]

the state board of dental examiners do check sterilization, but the thing is, its not a problem for us to sterilize instruments... its just a part of the job, we are trained to do it, its done with every instrument. the dentist is particular about it, we are particular about it. if a patient gets sick from a dental tool in our office, we could all lose our licenses, every dental assistant i know has the mentality of "would i put that in MY mouth, or my child's mouth?" ... so i hope this has put your mind at ease.

all instruments are put into a sterilizer or auto calve, there is no chance of hep c.

[glenn t]

I did a course from dental town on infection control, and the case of disease transmitted through dental instruments were like less than 10 across the US in like 15 years, and that was during the early 90's

I am not really sure about the numbers but it is so low that it is almost not significant.

Nowadays most dentist sterilize their hand pieces so the chance of contracting Hep B is already very very low. and Hep B is way more common than Hep C

[THETRUTH313]

I do not know of a specific site that gives info on how often HIV, Hep B and Hep C are "accidentally" transmitted at dental offices, pain clinics, endoscopy clinics, MD offices, tattoo parlors, beauty salons, nail saloons, barber shops, etc. but you can find many places that this has happened over the years by go ogling.

Anyone who thinks Hepatitis C is not EVERYONE's disease needs to be educated! Please Get Tested for Hep C and KNOW your status. There are not any symptoms until you get to the late stages of the disease as the liver "suffers silently"


Here are a few links I have collected and these are just the "tip of the ice burg":

http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/article-display/0714173232/articles/dentisryiq/front-office/dental-assisting_digest/2010/08/Possible-disease-outbreak-in-dental-clinics-validates-the-need-for-infection-control-protocols.html

http://www.denverpost.com/news/frontpage/ci_15782528

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/news/2008/feb/27/hepatitis-outbreak-springs-endoscopy-center-nevada/

http://www.2keller.com/blog/va-hospital-exposes-thousands-of-veterans-to-hiv-and-hepatitis.cfm

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/1764386.html

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2010-08-25/story/mayo-clinic-hepatitis-infected-employee-shared-syringes-patients

http://www.examiner.com/healthy-living-in-durham/surgical-tech-exposes-thousands-to-hepatitis-c

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/hepatitis-c-outbreak-at-brandon-holistic-clinic-blamed-on-syringes/1081258

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/nyregion/16doctor.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/blood-tests-on-clients-of-tattoo-shop-closed-over-health-fears-585682.html

[marilyncalvo]

Such type of cases are very less because every dentist is careful about using the tools,That is why there is very less information available on internet.I also searched about such transmission of disease through dental tool but did not get enough information to share over here.