I think we can all agree that many of us do not consider the dentist to be the most enjoyable visit. This being said, it is essential to visit for essential dental operations, maintenance and cleaning. The clinic is always clean, the dentists always wearing protective equipment, always presenting as a professional and safe environment. However, who keeps the dental equipment clean? Let’s discuss a few tips and tricks to keep your dental equipment spotless and safe for patients!
The first important tip is to know the industry guidelines and protocols regarding hygiene, OHS and disinfection guidelines. Now more than ever, it is imperative to continuously wash your hands, wash utensils and disinfect surfaces. Knowing exactly what processes to follow, and what solutions to use to effectively do this is even more important. There is no use in using the wrong solutions, or half washing something, as it will still possess bacteria that can be transported to another patient.
Another great tip lies in the waiting room and amenities of the clinic itself. Dental equipment isn’t the only surface that sees plenty of germs. Waiting rooms, bathrooms and front desks see plenty of traffic every day, and it is important to maintain these areas with a high level of cleanliness. If a patient is to place bacteria on magazines, chairs, the front desk and the bathroom, he is touching several surfaces. If the patient then sits down in the dental chair or mistakenly touches any dental equipment, this may be harmful to any further patients throughout the day.
Now comes the tips for cleaning the dental equipment itself. First thing, you want to protect yourself. You do not want to be passing any micro-contaminants onto the dental equipment, whilst you are cleaning them, it completely defeats the purpose! Use PPE such as a facemask, gloves and eyewear to reduce the chances of this happening.
When cleaning the dental equipment, you may have to manually clean it, or you may have machines and automated equipment to do this for you. Depending on what is available at your clinic will depend on how you clean the dental equipment. For manual cleaning, use cleaning brushes and cleaning solutions to scrub away any debris or contaminants. Before you scrub the dental equipment, it is important to note that pre-soaking the instruments will make cleaning much easier.
If you have automated equipment handy, this will undoubtedly make cleaning the dental equipment much easier and will save plenty of time. If your clinic has a steaming machine, it is important to first clean off any debris or stains. Once the equipment has been steamed and sterilized, safely take the dental equipment out and dry it. To avoid any chances of it being exposed to bacteria, it is important to package it up and ready for the next client to walk in!
If you want to talk to a dental equipment expert, give the team at Confidental Equipment a call!
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