Importance of Disinfection and Sterilisation in the Dental Clinic

A dental clinic shouldn't only look clean but it should be really clean at the microscopic level. Human blood and saliva are full of pathogens, bacteria and viruses. Once the dental equipment comes in touch with a patient’s saliva or blood, it becomes infected and if not cleaned properly, it may infect others. This is why it is important to disinfect and sterilise dental equipment after each use.

Sterilisation and disinfection aren’t just limited to wiping off the equipment but it is a much more involved process. This blog post will explore the importance of disinfection and sterilisation in the dental clinic.

What is Dental Clinic Sterilisation?

Sterilisation may be defined as the process that eliminates all microbial life. As explained in the opening paragraphs, the blood and saliva of a patient are capable of carrying harmful bacteria and may cause diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, strep and herpes, among others.

If the dental equipment isn't sterilised properly, these harmful bacteria and viruses may infect other patients and staff. This is why sterilisation is extremely important in a dental clinic. An autoclave is a machine where the dental equipment is heated to a temperature of up to 134 degrees to kill all the pathogens including bacteria spores.

What Is Dental Clinic Disinfection?

Disinfection may be defined as the process that gets rid of almost all the pathogenic organisms but not bacterial spores. Liquid chemicals are typically used for this process. The goal of disinfection is to get rid of pathogens on the surface to ensure it is not capable of transmitting infectious pathogens.

Benefits of Sterilisation and Disinfection

Running a dental practice is hard work. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make sure the equipment and patient area is disinfected and sterilised after each use. Without proper sterilisation and disinfection practices, it would be difficult for a dental clinic to operate.

Here's a list of some of the major benefits of sterilisation and disinfection in a dental clinic:

• Prevents the spread of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, herpes, COVID 19, and others.
• Keeps staff members safe from viruses and bacteria.
• Helps in preventing the transmission of contracting diseases through surface contact.

Oral care instruments go into people's mouths and come in contact with saliva and blood. Naturally, these instruments need to be sterilised properly to ensure no one else is exposed to these harmful viruses and bacteria. With proper sterilisation and disinfection protocol, staff in the dental clinic can ensure that infectious agents are never transmitted to other patients or staff members. It is important to keep the staff members healthy and protect them from illness.

Regular disinfection and proper sterilisation are the keys to keeping staff healthy and avoiding exposure to harmful microbes. Disinfection is also necessary to avoid disease transmission through surface contact. Many harmful viruses or bacteria can stay alive on the surface for several hours and if people come in contact with an exposed surface, they may contract such harmful diseases.

Sterilisation in Dentistry: Key Elements

The use of chemicals can get rid of a variety of pathogens but most disinfectants are not capable of killing all bacterial spores. This is why the sterilisation process using an autoclave is one of the standard practices in dentistry for proper sterilisation of dental equipment. In an autoclave, the dental equipment is heated up to a temperature of 134 degrees C at high pressure for a set period of time.

Pure steam then penetrates all the nooks and crannies of the instruments to ensure all the surfaces of the equipment are properly sterilised and no microorganisms remain alive. Once the equipment has been sterilised it should be properly packed to maintain sterilisation for an extended period of time.

Trusted Dental Clinic Equipment Supplier

Medical Equipment Services Australia is one of the premier Australian suppliers of high-quality dental equipment including autoclaves, dental supplies and dental chairs, and other dental equipment. We have been operating since 1952 and have established a well-earned reputation for high-quality products at affordable prices. We have all the top autoclave brands and we are also known for reliable after-sales service.