Dentistry is one of the most tightly controlled and carefully regulated industries in the world, and for good reason. Working directly in the mouths of patients from all walks of life requires a level of care and attention that is all too easy to take for granted. With the perception of dentistry as something that many patients try to avoid, it’s really important to find ways to communicate how the industry works.
Dental practices that highlight the lengths they go to when working to keep their patients safe and well will experience greater patient loyalty as a result. You only have to look at studies and reports that show 9-digit patient revenue on a repeat basis to see that dentistry is a growth industry in terms of financials. With this in mind, we’re going to look at one of the key areas that make this possible.
The role of dental gloves
Safety and hygiene are clearly and rightly paramount within the confines of any dental practice, and rightly so in our opinion. Premium quality gloves are the first line of defence and form a barrier that is designed to stop infections from moving from practitioner to patient. While no dentist will need reminding of this, those reading this article from a purely financial point of view will benefit from a little extra background.
Blood contamination, passing saliva, and the mixing of other types of bodily fluids will all be prevented by the use of the correct dental gloves. Dentists purchase their gloves from trusted suppliers that are tightly regulated and have the relevant trust and safety systems in place. The disposable nature of the gloves ensures that a hygienic environment is possible with every fresh contact. As a result, cross-contamination is eliminated with a habit that is engrained from the very first day of training.
Dental gloves and practitioner protection
Many pathogens are bloodborne and pass between people via open wounds and painful sores. Due to the large number of people that a dentist will treat during the course of their career, they are at greater risk of catching something than the rest of the adult population. This is one of the chief reasons that investing in durable, reliable, and fully tested dental gloves is of crucial importance.
As any dentist reading this will confirm, budgeting for disposable gloves is something that is non-negotiable when it comes to running their practice. While from time to time there may be environmental thoughts that suggest the need to look into a more eco-friendly alternative, nothing suitable has ever been developed. Washing and reusing is a popular shift in many areas of life, but it’s not something that could conceivably happen in the dentistry world. The risk to both the patient and the practitioner is simply too great to change the current system.
Dental gloves promote instrument safety
Another area that perhaps only the dentists themselves will be aware of is that of instrument safety. Dental practice managers may not think of instrument safety when they picture the tight fit of thin dental gloves. While they are far from puncture-proof, they still offer a first line of defence against nicks from surgical cutting implements and jabs from syringes. That is not to say that they offer full protection, but it is an added bonus of investing in durable gloves for the whole practice.
An issue that needs to be discussed at this point is the relationship between practitioner and practice manager. The former delivers patient care while the latter ensures that the practice is operational, including stocked with the right equipment and consumables. Practice managers are tasked with reducing and monitoring the overheads of the business because it needs to make a profit in order to be able to continue to function.
An issue that can arise at this juncture is cost reduction causing a commensurate drop in quality. Dental gloves that are cheaper are not necessarily better. They may have a more inconsistent supply chain that results in shortages. Not only that but the quality of the gloves themselves may be compromised. Comfort is also something that a practice manager simply won’t be aware of unless they work with the practitioner to trial the fit of a variety of different gloves. Investing in gloves from a trusted national supplier with a proven record is always the smart approach to take.
Conclusion
By looking at practices as businesses and gloves as key consumables, you can see how the industry works in a variety of different ways. Dentists and dental practice managers have different criteria when investing in this key type of consumable, and they need to work together to make sure that the needs of patients are met in a sustainable way.
