Reading the cleaning guidelines and instructions that come with your dental chair is the first step in dental chair maintenance. How many of us, though, genuinely read, comprehend, and practice every single detail? Are you familiar with the proper cleaning, sanitising, and upkeep of your dental chair?
Will your dental chair withstand the test of time, given that a well-engineered, high-quality dental chair should last you 10 to 20 years? If you're unsure about any of these questions, MES has got you! Here are 5 vital practices:
5 Practices To Make Your Dental Chair Last Longer
1). Clean the Upholstery the Right Way
Your dental chair is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your dental practice. And there's no doubt that the #No.1 maintenance practice is cleaning your chair. But how are you doing it? Wrong cleaning no matter how often it's done will ruin your dental chair. That said, here is a list of things to do:
- For period cleaning, use commercially available cleaners that don't contain alcohol, bleach, or ammonia.
- Use a mild soapy (dishwashing soap) water solution as an alternative.
- Never use harsh chemicals as they peel and crack your upholstery's surfaces.
- Minimise the use of disinfectants. If need be, look for your dental chair manufacturers' recommendations on antibacterial or stain-removing products.
- Use a soft white cloth to clean and wipe.
- To avoid permanently damaging upholstery surfaces, never use abrasive cleaners, scrubbing pads, or other abrasive applicators.
2). Use the Barrier Technique To Protect Against Pathogens
Minimise the use of surface disinfectants on the upholstery. Use the barrier approach instead. Chemicals can limit the lifespan of upholstered surfaces and cause degradation. Disinfectants may harm dental equipment, and NO disinfectant should be regarded as harmless.
We strongly advise using the barrier technique to protect the equipment's polish and aesthetic appeal whenever it is practical. This approach involves the use of disposable barriers that can be changed between patients. These control infection and when the barrier is broken, you can opt for recommended disinfectants.
3). Maintain The Waterlines of Your Dental Unit
Make sure your dental unit waterlines are correctly maintained to avoid the buildup of germs or bad odours. To do this, we recommend A-dec ICX tablets. All you need to do is drop an ICX pill into the empty bottle each time you refill a self-contained water bottle. After that, reattach it to your dental unit and fill it with water. It takes two minutes for the tablet to dissolve.
If CFU levels were previously at a safe level, it will keep water quality stable for at least two weeks. Don't take the water bottle out of the closed system to dry overnight, it increases the risk of contamination. Remember to also test, shock, and treat your waterlines to clean any biofilm buildup.
4). Keep Solids Filters Clear
Your dental unit comes with filters. When these are not inspected, debris may collect and clog your system. Check and clear any debris in the solids and oil collector, crown catcher, and other filters every week. This ensures your chair systems are free from obstructions. When there is a need to, replace your filters to keep the system running well.
5). Metal Syringe Tips Need Maintenance
Instead of reusable metal syringe tips that can be sterilised in a vacuum autoclave, most clinics prefer to utilise disposable plastic ones. These however harm the environment not to mention that they harm syringe tip O-rings more quickly than metal O-rings do.
So when it comes to metal tips, how can you maintain a high level of hygiene? Metal air/water tip sterilisation requires more than merely throwing a tip in a bag and putting it in the autoclave. Clinicians must take into account the metal-air/water syringe's interior, which requires additional cleaning effort. For proper sterilisation, they need to follow a manufacturer's instructions and infection control protocol. This completely removes any biofilm left.
Keep Your Dental Chair Germ-Free, Clean, and in Good Condition
It's one of the biggest investments you'll make—ensure you are looking after your dental chair well. But with these 5 pointers, it ought to be a piece of cake!
Need any dental chairs, supplies, or other tools? Perhaps some guidelines on purchased items? If you are searching for the best dental chair supplier in Australia, then look no further than Medical Equipment Services Australia.
For all your medical and dental supply requirements, please call us today on 1300 342 013 or leave an enquiry.
