EASTERN SHORE MISSION OF MERCY
Hygiene Department Protocol
1. Recommended time per patient:
30 minutes for Class I Adult prophy
40 minutes for full mouth debridement with cavitron (Class II, III, IV)
2. Topical anesthetic is available; no local anesthesia. Notify aides and they will bring to you.
3. Oral health education will be provided to patients prior to dental hygiene treatment.
4. Complete patient treatment form by checking treatment services rendered in designated hygiene box (Adult prophy, full mouth
debridement, selective polishing, fluoride)
5. Your full signature is required on patient treatment form. (NO initials). Make sure patient form is complete before they leave your chair and
that they take their form with them.
6. Only BLUE pens should be used on patient forms.
7. Patients are not allowed to walk unattended on the clinic floor. Use your station cards for moving the patients or for problems.
GREEN - bring me a patient
RED – Need an Escort or Have a Question
YELLOW - Translator needed
ORANGE - Equipment concerns
WHITE w/red cross – EMT needed
PURPLE – request Nomad xray
8. You may use your own instruments or the ESMOM cassettes. If you use your instruments, be sure they have your identification and bring
labeled sterilization bags.
a. Take all dirty instruments in a box or cassette to the Dirty Instrument Intake Cart located at the end of each table for sterilization. If using
your own instruments, you are responsible for putting your name on a sterilization pouch and putting the pouch with your instruments. A
runner will take your instruments from sterilization and bring them back to the Hygiene Supply Table once they have been sterilized.
b. It takes approximately 45 minutes to turn instruments around in sterilization.
9. Translators are available.
10. If you stick yourself or are stuck with an instrument, immediately notify the department lead, who will follow the needle stick/sharp
instrument protocol.
11. Broken MOM instruments should be returned to sterilization in a plastic box and inform the sterilization staff.
12. Patient escorts should take the patient to record verification and then to exit interview area when treatment is complete.
13. DO NOT put cavitron inserts into cassettes.
14. Use 30 second pre-rinse swish for all patients prior to treatment.
16. Patients should wear protective eye wear.
17. When treatment is completed, call for a patient escort with a red card.
18. Please bring your own headlights if you have them.
*** Read and follow all protocols for infection control and sterilization***
So here's how the clinic flow works. Patients come into the clinic and are registered. They then receive a medical screening to ensure that they
are healthy enough to have dental work performed. They proceed from there to the triage area where dentists examine them to determine
what work needs to be done. A form is completed with the work to be done and patients are given color coded bracelets showing what work is
necessary. These include hygiene, extraction, restoration, endodontics, etc. Patients then go to a waiting area where a health fair will be taking
place. When it is their turn, they will be escorted to a forward waiting area just outside the clinic floor where they will be briefed on dental
hygiene. From there they are escorted onto the clinic floor where they will receive treatment corresponding to their form and bracelet(s). Once
all of their treatment has been completed, they go to the pharmacy area and then exit processing. Patients must be escorted the entire time
that they are at the clinic.
You will notice that volunteers will be wearing different colored tee shirts. The color designates what their role is at the clinic. The colors of the
shirts and the bracelets will be displayed around the clinic so that you will know who to look for if you have any issues. Here are a few things
that we would like you to be aware of at the clinic. If you have a patient experiencing physical distress or a medical problem, there will be EMT's
assigned to the clinic to provide help. There will be mental health volunteers on duty to assist patients who are emotionally upset or frightened
about having the dental work performed. If you see a patient who is upset, let us know and we will get help for them.
If you encounter a patient that does not speak English, translators will be available for some languages, including Spanish. Just let us know and
we will try to accommodate them. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your shift. You have to be registered, get your tee shirt, perhaps grab a bite
to eat, attend a brief volunteer orientation, and get your assignment.
This is important - When you go on break and someone replaces you, please ensure that you have trained them on your duties.
If you have any questions, please contact Pat Mulford, RDH 443-880-0893 or
patmulford013@gmail.com
Thank you for volunteering your time and helping to Bring Smiles Back to the Eastern Shore!!!!