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We all know how important it is for dentists and other dental practitioners to make sure that their tools and instruments are clean and sterilize for each of their patient’s use. Contaminated and unsanitized dental materials may harbor bacteria and other disease-causing particles that may spread to and affect dental patients. Using dental sterilization equipment is of utmost importance and having one in your dental practice is an essential criterion in finding an ideal dental clinic. Here are safety tips on how to use dental sterilization equipment to make sure that you are protecting not just your patients but yourself as well. If you want to get a recommendation for an ideal dental sterilization equipment, check this dental machine at www.dentalhandpiece.com.au/product/nsk-presto-aqua.
How to safely use dental sterilization equipment
It is important to properly care for your instruments so it will:
- function effectively for a longer period of time
- allow you to follow sanitation standards
- save you money
- keep you from spreading diseases
With this in mind, one of the most important ways is to choose the best dental sterilization equipment that you will use for your practice. It should be compatible with your tools and instruments and will function to complement your profession’s aim, which is to help maintain and improve dental health.
Here are some tips on how to practice proper sterilization of your dental instruments.
Make sure that you prepared your instruments before sterilization
In a busy clinic, dental staff and dentists may not have the time to clean their dental instruments every after a procedure. So make sure that you presoak your instruments before cleaning them so that dried out blood or oral tissues can be softened and easily removed when you clean it. Whether you use high-tech instrument washers like ultrasonic cleaners and automatic washers or just plain manual scrubbing is up to you, as long as you make sure that all debris is carefully removed before sterilizing them. After washing, make sure you dry your instruments because when sterilizers do not necessarily dry them, so if your instruments are wet, your next steps will be affected and they will be more prone to contamination.
Pack them properly
There are instruments that need to be kept packed and sealed before and after sterilization so that contamination from the air will be reduced. This is one important reason why you should not sterilize wet instruments since the wetness or moist will affect the packaging and may harbor contaminant more than dry ones.
Protect yourself
What good is all the fuss you have made in preparing for your sterilization if you are the biggest contaminant present in the equation? Not only will protecting yourself be beneficial for preventing impurities from affecting the instruments, but it will also help you maintain your health and wellness. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while cleaning dental instruments can help you protect yourself from getting infections or contagious illnesses from your patients via their blood or body secretions left on your tools. Using and wearing sterile gloves, safety goggles, masks, and lab gowns can protect you and your patients, so make it a habit to use them all the time.
