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The operatory (treatment room)
Also called: op, treatment room, operatory
The room where patients are treated, built around the dental chair.
An operatory holds the patient chair, the overhead operatory light, a delivery unit with handpieces and the air-water syringe, suction, a computer, cabinets and usually a sink. Surfaces you touch during care (light handles, switches, x-ray equipment, the chairside computer, drawer and faucet handles) are clinical contact surfaces that get barriers or cleaning and disinfection between patients.
How to spot it
- A reclining chair in the middle, a light above it, hoses and tools on a unit, cabinets along the wall.
What it is used for
- Keep counters clear of extra supplies so the room is faster and easier to clean.
Safety and care
- Carpet and cloth upholstery should be avoided in treatment areas because they cannot be reliably disinfected.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)