INFECTION CONTROL & PATIENT SAFETY SURGERY

Your Safety Is the Foundation of Every Visit

Surgery, by definition, asks patients to trust a team they may be meeting for the first time. At Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery, Dr. Raymond J. Haigney II, FACS and his team treat that trust as something earned at every appointment, not assumed. Infection control and patient safety are not seasonal policies here — they are permanent, hospital-grade standards built into how the practice operates every day, for every patient who walks through the door in Huntersville and the greater Charlotte metro.

This page outlines the specific protocols in place so patients and referring doctors know exactly what to expect before, during, and after a visit.

Hospital-Grade Sterilization Standards

Every instrument used in surgery is cleaned, packaged, and sterilized using the same validated protocols required in hospital operating rooms. Instruments are:

• Pre-cleaned immediately after use to remove biological debris before sterilization
• Packaged individually or in procedure-specific trays with sterilization indicators
• Processed through medical-grade autoclaves at monitored temperature and pressure cycles
• Biologically tested on a routine schedule to confirm sterilization equipment is performing correctly, with results logged and retained

Single-use disposable items — needles, syringes, suction tips, and other consumables — are opened fresh for each patient and never reprocessed. Surfaces in every treatment room, from the surgical chair to countertops and light handles, are disinfected with hospital-grade, EPA-registered solutions between patients.

Air Quality and Filtration

Airborne particles are a normal byproduct of dental and oral surgery procedures, which is why air management is treated as seriously as surface cleaning. Treatment areas are equipped with high-efficiency filtration and ventilation designed to reduce airborne particulate and aerosol concentration between and during procedures, supporting a cleaner breathing environment for patients and staff alike.

Personal Protective Equipment and Team Protocols

The clinical team follows standard precautions on every patient, every time, regardless of medical history. This includes appropriate gloves, masks, eyewear, and gowns for the procedure being performed, along with strict hand hygiene before and after every patient contact. Staff are trained on current infection-control guidance and undergo regular competency review to keep protocols consistent across the whole team, not dependent on any one individual remembering the steps.

What Patients Can Expect During a Visit

Beyond sterilization and air quality, the office is designed to make the visit itself feel calm and controlled:

• Streamlined check-in. Paperwork can typically be completed in advance online, reducing time spent in shared waiting areas.
• Private consultation and treatment rooms. Discussions about diagnosis, imaging, and treatment planning happen in private rooms rather than open bays.
• Pre-operative health screening. Medical history, current medications, and any relevant symptoms are reviewed before sedation or surgery to keep the anesthesia plan safe for each patient's specific health profile.
• Clear post-operative instructions. Every surgical patient leaves with written home-care instructions and a direct line to the office for any questions during recovery.

Sedation and Anesthesia Safety

Dr. Haigney is trained and certified to administer the full range of office-based anesthesia, from local anesthesia to IV sedation, and monitors vital signs continuously throughout any sedated procedure using pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and cardiac monitoring. The same emergency equipment and protocols required in a hospital operating suite are maintained on-site, and the team drills emergency procedures on a routine basis so a response is second nature if it is ever needed.

A Standard, Not a Response

These protocols were not created in reaction to any single event, and they do not get relaxed once attention moves elsewhere. They reflect the baseline expected of a practice led by a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons: consistent, documented, and reviewed on an ongoing basis so every patient receives the same standard of care regardless of when they schedule their appointment.

Why This Matters for Referring Doctors and Their Patients

General dentists and physicians throughout Huntersville and the Charlotte metro refer patients here in part because these standards do not vary case to case. A referring doctor sending a patient for wisdom teeth extraction, dental implant placement, or a biopsy can expect the same sterilization, monitoring, and safety documentation applied consistently, which simplifies post-operative coordination and follow-up care on their end.

Questions About Your Upcoming Visit?

If you have questions about sedation safety, sterilization, or what to expect at your upcoming appointment, the team at Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery is glad to walk through it with you. Call (704) 987-3132 or request an appointment online to get started.

Related Article: About Dr. Haigney & Our Team