Clean Is Dental Equipment
Having high-quality dental instruments that are properly cleaned and sterilised is crucial to maintaining the health of your team, your patients and their mouths. The key to this is using a process that’s efficient, cost-effective and effective at keeping you, your colleagues and your patients safe from infection.
The first step in cleaning your instruments is to ensure that they are correctly stored, discarded and disinfected. This includes making sure that all dental equipment is packaged in the correct containers and is ready to use for each procedure. This will save you time and effort by ensuring that your clinicians spend less time searching for the right tools for their procedures, and more time treating patients!
It’s also important to ensure that all instruments are contaminated with only a low level of bacteria. Using alcohol-based sanitizers will help to eliminate any bacteria that may be present on your tools. It’s also essential to clean off any chemical residue after every use to avoid damaging your equipment. Once you’ve cleaned your instruments, it’s time to sterilise them. This involves a process that uses high heat, steam and pressure to kill any viruses or bacteria that might be lurking on your equipment after you’ve used them.
How Clean Is Dental Equipment?
This process is often referred to as autoclaving, and it’s one of the most important parts of any dentist’s hygiene routine. After you’ve scrubbed your tools with a special disinfectant solution, they’re placed in a machine that’s similar to an industrial pressure cooker. This machine is able to reach 134 degrees C, a temperature that will kill all bacteria and other pathogens that might be on your instruments after you’ve used them.
After you’ve sanitised your instruments, you can now safely store them away in a safe and secure place until you need them again. Depending on the type of instrument, you can either store them in a storage box or inside a case that can be easily carried around the office.
It’s also a good idea to make sure that all equipment is stored in an airtight container with a tight seal so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. This is especially important for dental handpieces because they come into contact with the patient’s soft tissues and can spread bacteria throughout the mouth.
Lastly, always follow the guidelines that your dental team has set up for you to help prevent infections and keep your patients healthy. These recommendations include changing into and out of work scrubs, removing your gloves, disinfecting and using antimicrobial mouthwash.
Aside from preventing infections, these four steps in combination with your practice’s pandemic-friendly dental safety protocol will keep you, your colleagues and your patients healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s never too late to get started with these essential steps, so don’t hesitate!