Sterilization
A Dental Clinic is one of the places where cross-infection may happen. We concern ourselves with the disinfection and sterilization more than anyone else, because a sanitized, clean area is not only a protection for the general public but ourselves as well.
Prevention is the best protection method to combat disease and infection in the dental facility. Proper sanitation habits, effective sterilization, and careful handling are primary ways to obtain sanitary conditions.
Qualified Operators
All staff receive strict training and continuing education in disinfection and sterilization. Regular assessment is conducted to help us keep up with the latest regulations.
Above the Regulation Standards
① Sterilized dental instruments are ready for each patient; once used, the instruments are immediately sterilized (or disinfected). Universal precaution is taken – assuming all patients are infectious – and applying every method of combating disease and infection.
② All critical instruments are to be sterilized.
③ All semi-critical instruments are to be sterilized. (According to Regulation for disinfection and sterilization technique of dental instruments, high level disinfection is appropriate if heat/pressure/chemical is not feasible.)
④ Noncritical instruments are to be disinfected.
Strict Sterilization Protocol
① After use (or exposure), instruments are to be classified first.
② The classified instruments are to be cleaned of debris with enzymatic solutions and rinsed manually or by ultrasonic cleaner.
③ Then the instruments are to be dried, packed, and wrapped in trays.
④ The instruments are sterilized in an autoclave by steam pressure with an indicator strip inside the package to indicate the effectiveness of the sterilizing process.
Triple Sterilization Monitoring and Evaluation
Only when the chemical (indicator strip), physical (autoclave data) and biological (commercial spore vial) monitoring of sterilization circle need to be qualified at the same time, will the instruments be ready for practice.
