Clinical Application

“The place of the TAD (mini screw) in the orthodontic office falls under the requirements of a surgical procedure. Oral surgical procedures involve the inscision, excision, or reflection of tissue that exposes the areas of the oral cavity that normally are not exposed.”

CDC Guidelines: From Policy to Practice by OSAP, 2004

When performing oral surgical procedures:

• Perform surgical hand antisepsis with an antimicrobial soap

• Use sterile or saline water as an irrigator

• Individually package and sterilize all items prior to procedure

• Use packaged sterile instruments

In addition, to reduce the risk of post-surgical infection associated with implant placement, a spore test must be placed in every sterilizer load that contains an implantable device, and avoid placing the device until after the results of the spore test are known.

Because of the potential added risk of infection from cutting or otherwise penetrating tissues that are not normally exposed, a higher level of precautions must be implemented to ensure patient protection.

Necessary for Compliance:

• Sterile Implant

• Biological Indicators

• Sterile Instruments

• Pouches or CSR wrap if using cassettes

• Sharpie #13601 or #13801

• Antimicrobial soap or alcohol-based surgical hand rub

• Sterile powder-free gloves for doctor and clinician

• Clinical gown - disposable or separate one for the procedure

• Masks

• Protective eyewear - doctor, clinician, and patient

Compliance with CDC guidelines and patient assurance of providing sterile instruments during these procedures is a necessary portion of the implementation of TAD’s or lasers into a practice. Please call for a smooth and seamless integration of the procedures into your busy practice.