Infection Prevention and Control at ONiA
Infection Prevention and Control at ONiA: Protecting Your Health Every Step of the Way
At ONiA, your health, safety, and wellbeing are at the centre of everything we do. Whether you are visiting us for orthodontic treatment, a consultation, or ongoing care, you can feel confident knowing that strict infection prevention and control measures are in place to protect you, your family, and our team.
Infection prevention and control within healthcare settings is essential to minimise the risk of infections spreading between patients, healthcare workers, and the wider community. It also helps prevent the development of resistant organisms and supports safe, high-quality healthcare outcomes.
Orthodontic and dental environments require particularly strong infection control systems because of the close contact involved in patient care and the use of specialised instruments and equipment. At ONiA, we are committed to implementing evidence-based systems that not only meet but exceed current Australian healthcare standards.
This commitment includes staff training, environmental cleaning, sterilisation processes, patient communication, risk management, and continuous review of our procedures to ensure we provide the safest possible environment for every person who enters our practice.
Our Commitment to Safe and Hygienic Patient Care
At ONiA, maintaining a clean, safe, and hygienic environment is a fundamental part of our daily operations. Every member of our team understands that infection prevention is not a single action, it is a continuous process that requires vigilance, education, and accountability.
Our infection control systems are designed to:
- Prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections
- Protect patients, staff, and visitors
- Reduce risks associated with reusable instruments and equipment
- Ensure safe management of novel infections and outbreak situations
- Maintain compliance with national healthcare standards and regulations
We follow a risk-based approach to infection prevention, meaning we actively assess potential hazards and implement systems that reduce or eliminate those risks before they become a concern.
This includes responding to environmental risks, public health alerts, pandemic planning, and new infection threats with evidence-based strategies and practical solutions.
Compliance with Australian Standards and Guidelines
ONiA’s infection prevention and control systems are aligned with the latest Australian standards, legislation, and professional guidelines to ensure best practice at all times.
These include:
- Australian Dental Association Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control
- Dental Board of Australia policies, codes, tools, and professional guidelines
- AS 5369:2023 Reprocessing of Reusable Medical Devices and Other Devices in Health and Non-Health Related Facilities
- NHMRC Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare
- Department of Health and Ageing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Infection Control Guidelines
- Australian National Guidelines for the Management of Healthcare Workers Living with Blood Borne Viruses
By adhering to these recognised standards, we ensure our patients receive care in an environment that reflects current national expectations for safety, quality, and infection prevention.
Our Infection Prevention and Control Manual
ONiA maintains a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control Manual that is specific to our practice and tailored to our clinical environment.
This manual clearly defines how safe and high-quality infection prevention and control measures are implemented across all areas of the practice. It has been developed using a risk-based approach and is regularly reviewed to remain consistent with current legislation and best practice recommendations.
All dental practitioners and staff have access to this manual and receive training on the procedures it outlines. Compliance is expected from every team member and is regularly monitored to ensure standards are consistently maintained.
The manual addresses important areas including:
- Communicable disease management
- Occupational exposure and needlestick injury protocols
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Staff immunisation and workplace screening
- Occupational allergy risk assessment
- Evaluation of new products and procedures
- Pandemic planning and novel infection response
- Safe management of invasive instruments and reusable devices
This structured approach ensures infection risks are managed effectively and consistently throughout the patient journey.
Hand Hygiene: The First Line of Defence
One of the most effective ways to prevent infection transmission is proper hand hygiene.
At ONiA, all staff follow hand hygiene requirements that align with the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). This includes regular handwashing, use of alcohol-based hand rubs, and appropriate hand hygiene before and after every patient interaction.
Compliance is regularly audited using formal hand hygiene assessments, and improvements are made whenever opportunities are identified.
We also support our patients in maintaining good hand hygiene by providing:
- Accessible handwashing facilities
- Alcohol-based hand sanitiser stations
- Clear verbal guidance when required
Simple measures such as hand hygiene make a significant difference in protecting everyone within the practice.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment plays a critical role in reducing the spread of infection in healthcare settings.
Depending on the procedure being performed, our clinical team may wear:
- Gloves
- Surgical masks
- Protective eyewear
- Face shields
- Clinical gowns or protective clothing
PPE is selected using a risk-based approach to ensure the appropriate level of protection is used for each patient interaction.
Our staff are trained in the correct use, removal, and disposal of PPE to prevent cross-contamination and ensure the highest level of safety.
Sterilisation and Instrument Reprocessing
Reusable dental and orthodontic instruments require strict cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilisation procedures to ensure they are completely safe for patient use.
At ONiA, all reusable equipment, instruments, and devices are managed according to AS 5369:2023 standards.
Our sterilisation systems include:
- Thorough cleaning and decontamination
- Inspection and preparation of instruments
- Sterilisation using validated steriliser cycles
- Batch control systems for full traceability
- Monitoring and auditing of sterilisation processes
We maintain a batch control system that allows identification of:
- The patient associated with reusable instruments or devices
- The steriliser cycle batch information linked to that instrument
This means every critical reusable instrument used in patient care can be traced accurately, ensuring full accountability and safety.
Environmental Cleaning and Practice Hygiene
A clean clinical environment is essential for infection prevention.
Our practice follows a structured environmental cleaning schedule that includes treatment rooms, waiting areas, sterilisation zones, bathrooms, and shared spaces.
Cleaning processes are monitored using environmental cleaning audits to ensure standards remain consistently high.
This includes:
- Routine cleaning of surfaces and high-touch areas
- Appropriate disinfection of clinical spaces
- Safe waste management
- Management of spills and contamination risks
- Safe handling and storage of clinical materials
We also regularly review furniture placement and physical distancing where appropriate to support respiratory hygiene and patient comfort.
Managing Workplace Health and Safety
Infection prevention is closely linked to workplace health and safety.
ONiA’s Work, Health and Safety policies include clear procedures for:
- Workforce screening
- Exclusion periods when illness is present or suspected
- Staff non-attendance when infection risks exist
- Occupational exposure management
- Needlestick injury protocols
- Post-exposure prophylaxis where required
We also maintain a staff immunisation register consistent with the current Australian Immunisation Handbook and jurisdictional vaccine-preventable disease requirements.
This helps protect both our team and our patients while supporting a safe and responsible workplace culture.
Identifying and Responding to Infection Risks
Infection control is not just about prevention, it also requires ongoing monitoring, review, and improvement.
At ONiA, we actively identify healthcare-associated infection risks through:
- Incident reporting and review
- Patient, staff, and practitioner feedback
- Equipment and facility inspections
- Monitoring compliance with infection control procedures
- Reviewing trends in collected infection-related data
- Maintaining an organisation-wide risk register
If risks are identified, prompt action is taken to reduce or eliminate them.
This proactive approach helps us continuously improve patient safety and adapt to new healthcare challenges.
Education, Training, and Continuous Improvement
Infection prevention relies on knowledge and consistency.
That is why ONiA provides regular education, training, and feedback to all staff and practitioners. This includes updates on:
- Infection control procedures
- New guidelines and legislation
- Novel infection responses
- Public health advice
- Equipment and technology improvements
We also introduce new devices and systems when they can improve our infection prevention processes and clinical outcomes.
Annual policy reviews help identify opportunities for quality improvement, ensuring our standards continue to evolve with best practice healthcare.
Communicating with Our Patients
We believe patients should feel informed and confident about the care they receive.
That is why ONiA provides clear information about our infection prevention and control measures through:
- Our practice website
- Verbal communication during appointments
- Posters
We also routinely evaluate whether this information meets the needs of our patients and make improvements where needed.
Open communication helps build trust and supports our commitment to partnering with healthcare consumers in delivering safe, high-quality care.
Your Role in Infection Prevention
Patients also play an important part in maintaining a safe healthcare environment.
We ask patients to support infection prevention by:
- Practising good hand hygiene
- Following respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
- Rescheduling appointments if feeling unwell or infectious
- Informing our team of any recent illness or infection concerns
- Following any temporary public health recommendations when required
By working together, we can create a safer experience for everyone.
Our Promise to You
At ONiA, infection prevention and control is not simply a policy, it is part of our culture.
Every procedure, every instrument, every appointment, and every interaction is supported by systems designed to protect your health and wellbeing.
We understand that patients want confidence in the care they receive, and we are proud to provide an environment where safety, cleanliness, and clinical excellence are never compromised.
Our commitment is ongoing, and we will continue to review, improve, and strengthen our infection prevention practices to ensure the highest standard of orthodontic care for every patient.
When you choose ONiA, you are choosing a practice that prioritises your safety, because exceptional care begins with trust, and trust begins with protection.
