Infection Control &
Compliance Transparency
Best Dental publicly discloses its infection control accreditation, OSHA compliance, spore testing, and sterilization protocols — because patients deserve to verify safety standards before they walk in the door.
Safety You Can See and Verify
Every patient who walks into Best Dental deserves to know that the instruments touching their mouth are sterile, the surfaces around them are clean, and the team caring for them has taken every precaution modern dentistry requires. Unlike most dental practices, we publish our accreditation status, compliance documentation, and exact protocols — so you can verify, not just trust.
This page walks through our DIPC certification, OSHA compliance, spore testing program, sterilization logs, and daily protocols — with full transparency about what we maintain and why.
Accreditation & Compliance Documentation
Best Dental publicly discloses its infection control accreditation and compliance status — because patients deserve to know before they walk in the door.
All clinical staff complete annual OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards training (29 CFR 1910.1030). Training records are maintained on file. New staff complete training before beginning patient care.
Annual · All Staff · Records on FileBest Dental performs biological indicator (spore) testing on our autoclave — the most rigorous verification that sterilization is functioning correctly. Spore test results are logged and retained. This exceeds the minimum required by most state dental boards.
Biological Indicators · Results LoggedWritten sterilization logs document each autoclave cycle — date, cycle parameters, and indicator results. Creates an auditable record of instrument sterilization required for TSBDE compliance.
Written Records · TSBDE CompliantBest Dental maintains EPA amalgam separator compliance under the EPA Dental Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR Part 441), preventing mercury from entering wastewater systems. Compliance records maintained on file.
EPA 40 CFR Part 441 · CompliantAll clinical staff maintain hepatitis B vaccination records in compliance with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards, which require employers to offer hepatitis B vaccination to employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
OSHA Required · Records on FileBest Dental complies with infection control requirements of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), which governs dental practice in Texas and conducts periodic office inspections.
Texas SBDE · Inspection ReadyWhy We Publish This Information
- Transparency is part of care. Patients with compromised immune systems, chronic illness, or heightened infection concern deserve to verify our protocols before walking in — not just take our word for it.
- Most practices don't publish this. If you've searched for Richmond, TX dentists that show infection-control accreditation or OSHA compliance information on their websites, you've likely noticed how few do. We believe that should change.
- Documentation exists. Our DIPC certification, OSHA training records, spore test logs, sterilization logs, EPA compliance records, and hepatitis B vaccination records are all maintained on file — not just claimed on a website.
Autoclave Sterilization — The Gold Standard
Not all sterilization is equal. Autoclave steam sterilization is the highest level recognized by the CDC and ADA for reusable dental instruments.
What Happens to Every
Instrument Before Your Visit
After each patient, reusable instruments are collected, transported in a closed container to our sterilization area, and put through a strict multi-step process before being cleared for use with any future patient.
Instruments are never simply wiped or soaked — they undergo full autoclave sterilization, which uses pressurized steam at 270°F to destroy all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This is the same sterilization standard used in hospital operating rooms.
Each instrument pouch includes a chemical indicator strip that changes color only when the correct temperature and pressure conditions have been reached — providing visible proof of sterilization on every single pack. Biological spore testing provides an additional layer of verification that the autoclave is functioning correctly.
Our Complete Safety Protocols
Six core areas of infection control — each one applied consistently between every patient, every day.
Instrument Sterilization
All reusable instruments go through a complete sterilization cycle before every patient — no exceptions.
- Ultrasonic cleaning removes bioburden before sterilization
- Instruments individually bagged and sealed
- Sterilization indicator strip in every pouch
- Autoclave steam sterilization at 270°F
- Pouches remain sealed until moment of use
- Autoclave verified with biological spore testing — results logged
Surface Disinfection
Every touched surface in the treatment room is disinfected between patients using EPA-registered hospital-grade products.
- Dental chair, headrest, armrests fully wiped
- Overhead light and all handles disinfected
- Bracket tray and delivery system cleaned
- Computer inputs and touch screens wiped
- Counter surfaces and cabinets disinfected
- EPA-registered products with verified efficacy
Barrier Protection
Disposable barrier covers protect surfaces that cannot be easily disinfected — and are replaced between every patient.
- Plastic sleeve covers on light handles
- Barrier covers on chair headrest and controls
- Fresh cover on bracket tray
- Computer keyboard barrier replaced
- X-ray sensor barriers changed between patients
- All barriers removed and replaced, not reused
Personal Protective Equipment
All clinical staff follow strict PPE protocols for every patient contact — no shortcuts, no exceptions.
- Fresh gloves donned for every patient
- Gloves changed immediately if torn or contaminated
- Masks rated for aerosol-generating procedures
- Protective eyewear or face shield worn chairside
- Protective gowns or clothing worn and changed
- Hand hygiene before gloving and after degloving
Single-Use Disposables
Any item that contacts a patient and cannot be sterilized is single-use only and discarded immediately after each appointment.
- Needles and anesthetic cartridges — single use
- Gloves — single use, one pair per patient
- Masks — changed between patients
- Saliva ejectors and HVE tips — single use
- Prophy cups and angles — single use
- Air/water syringe tips — single use or sterilized
Waterline Management
Dental unit waterlines require active maintenance to prevent biofilm accumulation — flushed daily and between patients.
- Waterlines flushed at start of each day
- Handpieces, syringes flushed 20–30 sec between patients
- Waterline treatment products used regularly
- Water quality tested periodically per CDC guidance
- Sterile water used for surgical procedures
- Waterline maintenance logs maintained
Between Every Patient — Room Turnover
What actually happens in the treatment room after you leave and before the next patient arrives.
PPE for Cleanup
Clinical staff put on utility gloves and appropriate PPE before beginning the room turnover process. This protects the team and prevents cross-contamination during cleanup.
Sharps & Regulated Waste Disposal
Used needles are immediately recapped using a one-hand technique and placed in a sealed sharps container. Contaminated materials are disposed of in designated regulated waste containers.
Instrument Collection
Used instruments are collected in a closed, puncture-resistant container and transported to the sterilization area. Instruments are never left exposed or placed directly on countertops.
Barrier Removal
All barrier covers — chair headrest, light handles, bracket tray, keyboard, control panel — are removed and discarded. This is done before surface disinfection begins.
Surface Disinfection
All clinical contact surfaces are sprayed or wiped with EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant and allowed to remain wet for the full contact time required — typically 1–3 minutes. Surfaces are not wiped dry prematurely.
New Barriers Applied
Fresh barrier covers are placed on all surfaces that had them removed. New disposable supplies — cups, bibs, instrument setups — are restocked and placed for the incoming patient.
Sterile Instruments Opened at Chairside
Sterilized instrument pouches are opened at the chairside in front of the patient — never pre-opened in advance. The sterilization indicator is visible on the pouch, confirming the contents are sterile.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment serves two purposes: protecting clinical staff from exposure to pathogens and protecting patients from cross-contamination between appointments. At Best Dental, PPE is not optional or situational — it is standard for every patient, every procedure.
What Our Clinical Team Wears for Every Patient
- Gloves — Fresh pair donned immediately before patient care; changed any time gloves are torn, punctured, or contaminated; never worn outside the treatment room
- Surgical mask — Worn throughout patient contact; changed between patients or any time it becomes moist or contaminated; higher-filtration masks used during aerosol-generating procedures
- Protective eyewear — Safety glasses, goggles, or face shield worn during any procedure that may produce splatter or aerosols
- Protective clothing — Clinic attire or gowns worn in the treatment area; changed when visibly soiled or between patients after contaminated procedures
- Hand hygiene — Hands washed or sanitized before gloving and immediately after removing gloves; alcohol-based hand rub used when hands are not visibly soiled
🩺 Why You'll Always See Us Open Instrument Pouches in Front of You
We open sterile instrument pouches at your chairside — never pre-set instruments on an open tray before you arrive. This gives you visible confirmation that the instruments being used on you were sealed and sterile going into your appointment. It's a small thing that makes a meaningful difference in transparency and trust.
Regulatory Compliance & Standards
Best Dental's infection control program is built on the standards published by the primary regulatory bodies governing dental infection control in the United States — and exceeds them wherever possible with additional documentation, spore testing, and our DIPC certification program.
CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings
The CDC's dental infection control guidelines cover standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE selection and use, respiratory hygiene, sterilization and disinfection of patient-care items, environmental infection control, dental handpiece sterilization, single-use device policies, and dental unit waterline management. Our protocols are reviewed against these guidelines regularly and updated whenever guidelines are revised.
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) governs how healthcare settings protect workers and patients from exposure to blood-borne pathogens including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Compliance includes written exposure control plans, use of safer needle devices, proper sharps disposal, regulated waste handling, and ongoing staff training. All Best Dental clinical staff receive initial and annual bloodborne pathogen training — records maintained on file.
Texas State Board of Dental Examiners
In addition to federal standards, Best Dental complies with infection control rules established by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), which governs dental practice in Texas and conducts periodic inspections of dental offices statewide. Sterilization logs are maintained in the format required by TSBDE.
What This Means for You as a Patient
- Every instrument is sterile before it contacts your mouth — verified by sterilization indicators on every pouch and biological spore testing of the autoclave
- Every surface was disinfected after the previous patient using EPA-registered products with proven pathogen kill claims
- Every barrier was replaced on every covered surface before you entered the room
- Every disposable item — needle, gloves, mask, saliva ejector — is used once and discarded
- Our team is trained annually in infection control and bloodborne pathogen safety — records on file
- Documentation exists — DIPC certification, spore test logs, sterilization logs, OSHA training records, EPA compliance records are all maintained on file
Environmentally Conscious Dental Practice
Best Dental hasn't adopted a marketing label — but we've made deliberate operational choices that reduce our environmental footprint. Here's what we actually do.
Best Dental uses an EPA-compliant amalgam separator (40 CFR Part 441) that captures mercury and amalgam particles before they enter the wastewater system — preventing a significant dental-industry pollutant from reaching local waterways.
EPA 40 CFR Part 441 CompliantTraditional film X-rays require chemical developing solutions that must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Best Dental uses digital X-rays exclusively — no film, no developing chemicals, no chemical waste stream, and 90% less radiation for patients.
Zero Chemical Developer WasteNew patient forms, medical histories, and treatment records are handled digitally through our patient portal — no paper intake forms, no printed charts. Digital charting eliminates ongoing paper consumption across every patient visit.
Fully Paperless Intake & RecordsInstrument sterilization at Best Dental uses pressurized steam — not chemical sterilants like glutaraldehyde or ethylene oxide. Steam sterilization produces no chemical waste or harmful byproducts, and is both the most effective and the most environmentally benign sterilization method available.
No Chemical Sterilant WasteAppointment reminders, recall notices, and patient communications are sent by text and email — not paper mailers. For a practice seeing hundreds of patients per month, eliminating paper recall cards represents a meaningful reduction in paper and postal waste.
Text & Email — No Paper MailersAn Honest Note on "Eco-Friendly" Claims in Dentistry
- We don't use the term loosely. Dentistry involves single-use plastics, sterilization packaging, and regulated medical waste by necessity — no dental practice eliminates these entirely. What we've done is make deliberate choices where the option exists: digital over film, steam over chemicals, paperless over paper.
- The EPA amalgam separator is the most impactful item on this list. Mercury from dental amalgam is one of the largest sources of mercury contamination in municipal wastewater — compliant separators capture over 99% of amalgam particles before they enter the drain.
- We'll keep improving. If environmental responsibility is important to your choice of dental provider, we'd rather tell you exactly what we do and don't do than make broad claims we can't substantiate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Safety Commitment — At a Glance
Schedule with Confidence at Best Dental
Best Dental in Richmond, TX holds Dental Infection Prevention and Control certification since 2019 and maintains OSHA compliance, spore testing, and full sterilization documentation. Dr. Jasmine and Dr. Sonny Naderi. 22377 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 400, Richmond, TX 77407.
