Sterilization Of Dental Unit

The quality of dental unit waterlines is of considerable importance since patients and dental staff are regularly exposed to water and aerosols generated from the dental unit.

The unique features of dental unit water lines is the capacity for rapid development of a biofilm on the dental water supply lines combined with the generation of potentially contaminated aerosols.

The method followed in our clinic to reduce the contamination of waterlines.

• • Anti-retraction valves and retrograde aspiration of oral fluids. Autoclaving of the hand pieces and flushing of hand pieces for 30s at the end of each patient treatment and for 2-5 minutes at the end of the day.

• • Sterile water delivery system.

• • Fully autoclavable waterlines circuit.

Cleaning of dental watelines once in a week with chemicals like sterilox, Research shows that these chemicals can completely destruct the biofilm and destroy them 100%.

In our dental office, the instruments are cleaned & sterilized in a stage wise manner.

STAGE I: CLEANING

Washing and cleaning of instruments are done by hand scrub method using detergent solution.

 

STAGE II: COLD STERILIZATION

All the instruments are cold sterilized by soaking them for one hour in a disinfectant solution, Aldasen 2000 [which removes bacteria including Tuberculous bacillus, fungus & viruses including Hep B, AIDS / HIV Viruses]

STAGE III: ULTRASONIC CLEANING

Ultrasonic cleaning is efficient in removal of dried whole blood, saliva, serum, bacterial plaque as well as dental cements from instruments surface. It works on the principle of cavitation, which has the ability to reach the tiniest crevice. This is especially important with difficult to clean items such as burs (dental drills used for removing caries) and serrated instruments.

STAGE IV: PACKAGING

The instruments are then segregated according to their usage & packed in disposable pouches. These pouches are color coded, which upon complete sterilization will change its color.

STAGE V: AUTOCLAVE

All the package instruments are steam sterilized for 15min, at 121° c at 15 psi pressure. It acts by denaturation & coagulation of enzymes and proteins, which kills microorganisms more rapidly. When the instrument are completely sterilized the packages change color [Blue to Brown and Red to Yellow] Periodic monitoring of the autoclave is been carried out to check its efficiency.

This is the currently recommended method by the American Dental Association.

STAGE VI: STORAGE

The autoclaved instruments [completely sterilized instruments] are stored in HOT AIR OVEN to prevent recontamination till further use.

DISPOSABLE MATERIALS:

In our office, we use disposables wherever possible. We use a fresh, new pair of gloves for every patient that is disposed off immediately after the treatment is completed. In addition we use disposable masks, suction tips and paper cups. All local anesthetic is given from sealed syringes that are opened in front of the patient and disposed off immediately after treatment. We have an in-house water treatment plant, which supplies our
daily water needs.

Waste disposal management:

This includes all the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.

This includes amongst other things, collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste together with monitoring and regulation.

It also encompasses the legal and regulatory framework that relates to waste management encompassing guidance on recycling etc.