Infection control in dental school radiology

U.S. and Canadian dental schools were surveyed concerning infection control practices in dental radiology. The majority of respondents reported surface disinfection of intraoral projection operatories (55 percent) and panoramic operatories (61 percent) before or after each patient. The most frequently used surface disinfectant was iodophor. Most schools routinely disinfected the x-ray cone (89 percent) and tubehead (87 percent) of intraoral x-ray machines; however, many did not disinfect the control panel (44 percent) or the exposure button (27 percent). Although 100 percent of respondents reported student use of disposable latex gloves when exposing intraoral radiographs, 27 percent did not use gloves when processing radiographs. Fifty-six percent did not routinely disinfect countertops in the darkroom.