Question

The patient decides to undergo extraction of tooth #30. You have his verbal and written consent. The best way to proceed is to

A. PPE is not necessary. The tooth is so loose, by the time you don PPE, you could've taken the tooth out.
B. Wash your hands, don your personal protective equipment (PPE), apply topical anesthetic, inject the patient, and extract the tooth.
C. Apply topical anesthetic, inject the patient, and extract the tooth.
D. Inject the patient, wash your hands, don your personal protective equipment (PPE), and extract the tooth.

Answer 1

The best way to proceed with tooth extraction is to wash hands, don PPE, apply topical anesthetic, inject local anesthetic, and then perform the extraction according to the standard safety and sterilization protocols.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct procedure for tooth extraction, including tooth #30, would be to follow strict safety and sterilization protocols. This includes the following steps:

1. Wash hands thoroughly to maintain hygiene and minimize the risk of infection transmission.
2. Don personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, mask, eye protection, and possibly a gown, to protect both the patient and healthcare provider from potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
3. Apply topical anesthetic to numb the area and help reduce discomfort during the injection.
4. Inject a local anesthetic to deeply numb the tooth and surrounding tissues, ensuring a pain-free extraction.
5. Proceed with the tooth extraction using appropriate dental tools and techniques.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential in all procedural aspects of dentistry to ensure safety and avoid cross-contamination. The use of local anesthetic optimizes patient comfort, and maintaining sterile techniques is critical in dental procedures to prevent infection. Skipping any of these steps is not recommended, even if the tooth appears loose, as the risk of complications and infection remains high without proper precautions.