The Patient Centered Dental-Health Home 2023-2026 - 28

Fundamentals
The next area is for removal of debris from
instruments and trays.
A space for an ultrasonic cleaner or an undercounter
instrument washer (when instruments
are organized in cassettes) can increase safety
by reducing handling during the processing of
contaminants.
Next, a sink is required for rinsing instruments and
other dirty items, and for washing hands. It is also
a suitable place to locate an eyewash station. Some
sterilization centers can be equipped with suction
to clean water from surfaces or to empty out
containers with ease.
The next area is for packaging of instruments
or wrapping of instrument cassettes. Proper
organization requires space for wrapping of
cassettes or bagging of instruments with ready
access to the necessary tools.
The actual sterilization space requires separation in
such a way that contaminants will not splatter on
to cleaned and sterilized items during early
processing. This means that a physical
barrier between the dirty intake area
of sterilization and the packaging
area, and a separation between
packaging and sterile, to help
ensure compliance. Your
office may need a place
for cold-sterilization of
items that are reusable
but will not tolerate heat
or steam sterilization
and disinfecting of the
procedure trays and
lids. Key to this area is
placement of one or two
sterilizers with easy and
safe access not just to
the sterilization chamber
but the reservoirs and areas
that require maintenance.
Some sterilization centers
come with a built-in vacuum for
cleaning of water reservoirs and
28
spills around the sterilizers. They can also come with
slide-out shelves to hold sterilizers and refill hoses
with distilled water for filling sterilizer reservoirs.
These features improve access and safety during
sterilizer maintenance and use.
The last component of the actual sterilization
process is the storage of sterilized items where
they will not be subject to contamination from
processing activities.
EXPERT ADVICE:
Your sterilization bay may also benefit
from additional counter space for
restocking procedure trays, procedure
tubs, and bur holders with items
necessary for the categories of
procedures you will provide. The space
must be adequate for the volume of work
it receives. Drawers and cabinetry to
organize materials and items by function
or procedure can greatly enhance speed
and productivity. For instance, many
offices benefit from a column of drawers
organized to hold surgical instruments.
Instruments should be divided by order of use
and category starting with surgical curettes, then
elevators (grouped by type), forceps (grouped by
type), scissors, hemostats, and so on. The same
organization process is effective for organizing
other types of procedures such as endodontics,
crown and bridge, and dentures.
To assist with efficient and effective sterilization
spaces that comply with CDC standards,
manufacturers now produce sterilization centers
that meet all the requirements.
For information and help on infection control
and sterilization practices, you can find excellent
resources through the Organization for Safety,
Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). Visit www.osap.org
to learn more.
www.henryschein.com/sm
23SM2038
http://www.osap.org http://www.henryschein.com/sm
The Patient Centered Dental-Health Home 2023-2026

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Patient Centered Dental-Health Home 2023-2026
