Keeping dental instruments and other equipment clean is important at all times, but especially with all of the current events regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, your dental team is constantly sanitizing dental instruments between patients, but how exactly do they do it? What about other equipment and surfaces in the office that are interacted with? Continue reading to learn more from your dentist about how these items and areas are disinfected.
How Does the Team Go About Sanitizing Dental Instruments?
Dental offices are required to follow very strict and specific guidelines in order to ensure that bacteria and viruses that spread through saliva and blood are not transmitted to from patient to patient. These stern measures are always enforced in the practice, especially while we’re battling COVID-19. Regarding the sterilization and disinfection of instruments, your dental team commits to the following:
- Some types of dental equipment are either partially or single use to ensure their sterility. This includes syringe needles, cotton rolls, surgical masks, gloves, and other items. Your dentist has replaceable tips for the water syringe, air syringe, and the suction device that pulls saliva from your mouth. These tips are disposed of after each patient.
- Tools, such as mouth mirrors, dental scalers, and forceps, are sterilized with the use of an autoclave. This is a machine that uses high pressure and elevated temperatures in order to disinfect equipment. This way, the instruments are always clean for each and every patient.
What Other Things Are Sanitized in the Dental Office?
Anything that patients or the dental team touch regularly must also be disinfected on a regular basis. This includes:
- Frequently Used Areas: The overhead light, dental chair, electric cords, and keyboards are covered with plastic covers, which are replaced and disinfected after each patient. Things like counters, doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and other areas that are interacted with often are regularly disinfected with a hospital grade solution.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Dentists and their team wear protective equipment, such as gloves, surgical masks, and face shields to decrease the probability of transmitting illnesses, especially while we’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. All equipment is properly disinfected or disposed of after each use.
When you go to the dental office, your health and safety is the team’s number one priority. This is why they’re doing everything they can to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Because of all of these routine cleaning protocols, you can go to your appointment with peace of mind.
About the Author
At Advanced Smile Design, you have two highly skilled dentists providing a wide array of services to patients in Willow Grove. Dr. Krunal Patel earned his doctorate from New York University College of Dentistry. Dr. Barry Isdaner pursued his dental degree at Temple University School of Dentistry and has been working in the field for over 45 years. To learn more about the steps being taking to keep the office clean or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (215) 659-3334.
