Dental instruments that are laid out for use during the day must be cleaned and sterilized at the end of the day, whether or not they were actually used. Just by sitting out in a dental office, they can collect bacteria and other contaminants that could be spread to a patient if they are used without proper cleaning and treatment. They must be properly cleaned, sterilized and stored in order to prepare them for future use.
Clean the dental instruments manually or through mechanical means like a thermal washer disinfector or an ultrasonic bath. Infection Control Services says that
dental instruments cannot be sterilized properly unless they are thoroughly cleaned beforehand. Manual cleaning should be done in a sink specifically reserved for this purpose and they should be cleaned with non-foaming detergent and a nylon brush. They should be immersed in lukewarm water, scrubbed below the water's surface and then rinsed. If they are being cleaned in a thermal washer disinfector or ultrasonic bath, the process should be done according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Sterilize the instruments using a heat, steam, or chemical process. Heat is the usual method used in a dental setting. Use
autoclave terilization equipment that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for dental sterilization work and operate it according to the manufacturer's specific instructions.
Put on safety gloves and safety goggles prior to handling used dental equipment. Place contaminated tools in the cleaning section. Immediately scrub the equipment with soap and water to remove all visible debris. Soak tools in disinfectant or detergent if they are not scrubbed immediately, to prevent debris from adhering to the instruments.
Storage the sterilized instruments in their intact packaging. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the packaging must remain sealed and undamaged in order to retain sterile nature of the instrument. If the packaging gets wet, tears or is damaged in some way, the instrument should be sterilized again through the same process.
Proper sterilization of invasive instruments such as dental tools is extremely important to the practice of dentistry. Without proper sterilization of these tools, as well as dental equipment, various blood and saliva-borne pathogens can easily be transferred or shared among patients. In this light, contaminated or inadequately sterilized tools and equipment are unacceptable.
