Our office is located on Main Street in Lakemont Park at 166 Lakemont Park Boulevard in Altoona, Pa 16602     Directions/Map

Your Health Is Our Concern

We welcome your questions about all infectious diseases and our infection control procedures.  We want you to be comfortable knowing that we are using all the steps necessary to assure that your dental visit is a safe one and that you are protected from HIV, AIDS and other infectious diseases.

Sterilization And Disinfection

Instruments that can withstand high temperature are sterilized in a steam autoclave by using steam under pressure.  This method of sterilization kills the AIDS virus and other microscopic organisms capable of causing disease.

We use disinfection procedures on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as contour tops, drawer handles, x-ray unit heads and light handles.  A chemical agent, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as a hospital disinfectant, is used in our dental office.  Each treatment room is disinfected between patients to assure optimum protection.

The use of disposable items is another way we maintain a clean and safe office.  Many materials such as gloves, masks, wipes, paper drapes, saliva ejectors, needles and scalpel blades are used only once and then disposed of properly.

Update About AIDS and Infection Control

It's understandable that patients would have some concern about measures taken to protect their health during a visit to the dental office.  We want you to understand the rigorous precautions we take to protect you from all infectious diseases, including AIDS and Hepatitis B.

1. The doctor and staff have been vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
   
2. The virus that causes AIDS is readily destroyed by disinfection and sterilization measures that we always use to control the spread of any infection.
   
3. To protect your health, we adhere to what is called "universal precautions".  This means we use the same protective measures with EVERY patient to prevent transmission of the virus that causes AIDS or any other infectious disease.

The universal precautions include:

a. sterilizing or disinfecting ALL dental instruments after each use, including air turbine drills;
b. cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces in the treatment room and equipment after each patient;
c. wearing gloves, masks and protective eyewear for all patient treatment;
d. washing hands before and after each treatment and changing gloves after each patient;
e. disposing of needles and other sharp items in special containers;
f. properly disposing of waste items and contaminated material.

Some of these precautions are readily visible to you during a dental visit.  You'll be able to note the general cleanliness of the office, the use of masks and gloves, special waste containers and our frequent hand washing.  Other precautions, such as sterilization and disinfection, are performed before and after your visit.