Several recent television shows and other media exposures have caused a great deal of concern regarding sterilization Procedures and infection control procedures. These issues are a very important segment of the dental care that we provide, as they involve the health and safety of our patients and staff. This letter is intended to inform you of the procedures we use to keep our dental office a safe environment.

The cornerstone of any infection control program lies with the people who implement the procedures. My dental assistant is fully trained in the most up to date procedures. We are continuously updating our knowledge through extracurricular education courses and seminars.

All of the instrumentation that is placed in a patient's mouth is either disposable (used only once) or sterilized. The reusable items are scrubbed with a disinfectant soap, then placed in an ultrasonic cleaner (type of solution) and then sterilized in the autoclave which uses heat, chemicals, and pressure. All instruments and hand pieces are included in these procedures.

The rooms are wiped down with disinfectant between each patient. All of the operatory surfaces that are contacted by the hands of the doctor or assistant are wiped down with "Ster-All", a phenol-based disinfectant. My assistant and I wear surgical scrubs, gloves, masks, and protective eyewear during patient treatment.We feel that we can strive to make our infection control and sterilization program the highest priority. We welcome any questions from you regarding our procedures. We are proud of the efforts we take to provide for the health and safety of our patients. We will always try to provide you with the latest in technology and understanding in regards to all dental health issues.