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8 Essential Steps for Sterilizing Dental Instruments

One of your most important responsibilities as a dental professional is to properly sterilize your dental instruments.

Here are 8 steps for sterilizing your instruments, according to Midmark and Henry Schein.

 

Step 1: Transport Instruments to the Processing Area

After use, transport your contaminated instruments in a closed, leak-proof container to a safe, separate processing area.

Step 2: Sort Instruments and Dispose of Waste Properly

Separate disposables from reusable instruments. Dispose of disposable instruments safely and correctly. Soak reusable instruments that can’t be processed immediately. Discard any waste in a biohazard waste bin.

Step 3: Clean Instruments in an Ultrasonic Cleaner

Inspect reusable instruments for debris and dispose of the debris properly (see Step 2). Clean instruments in an ultrasonic cleaner (preferred), instrument washer, or by hand while wearing proper protection.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry Instruments

Rinse instruments and then dry them by patting them or using an instrument dryer.

Step 5: Package Instruments

Place instruments in a sealed package or pouch, unless you're going to use them immediately after sterilization.

Step 6: Sterilize Instruments in a Sterilizing Machine

Sterilize instruments using steam autoclaving, dry-heat, or chemical vapor machines.  Check out this post for a review on the different types of dental sterilizers.

If you're currently in search of an autoclave, read this guide for helpful tips on finding the right one for your practice.

Step 7: Store Instruments in a Dry, Protected Area

Step 8: Review Sterilizing Process for Quality Assurance

Routinely verify that your instruments are being sterilized properly using:

  1. Sterilizer readouts and gauges

  2. Chemical indicator testing

  3. Spore testing

 

Which Dental Instruments Need to Be Sterilized?

The Center for Disease Control has divided instruments used in dental practice into 3 categories based on their use: critical, semi-critical, and noncritical.

  • Noncritical instruments are those instruments that are used only on unbroken sections of the skin, such as blood pressure cuffs and external parts of x-ray heads.

  • Semi-critical instruments contact mucous membranes or broken skin. These include items such as mirrors and reusable impression trays.

  • Critical instruments penetrate soft tissue or bone, or enter into or contact the bloodstream.

Of these these 3 categories, critical and semi-critical instruments should be sterilized. Noncritical instruments only need to be disinfected.

Protecting Your Patients

As you carefully ensure that these 8 steps are followed in your practice, you'll be successful in fulfilling your responsibility to protect the health and safety of your patients.

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