A-dec Equipment Asepsis Instruction Manual
Instructions for Use
A-dec Equipment Asepsis Guide
Introduction
A-dec is committed to provide asepsis guidelines that support dental
professionals in the practice of state-of-the-art dental equipment asepsis.
Our asepsis guidelines are developed using guidance from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP) with
the goal of helping practitioners protect their investment in dental
equipment.
A-dec continually evaluates asepsis procedures and products so that we
can deliver information that is consistent with the above stated goals.
You can nd additional information on dental infection control from the
Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP).
Surface Management
“What surface disinfectant should I use?” Ideally, there would be a
simple answer to this question. However, with so many infection
control requirements and increased concerns about damage to dental
equipment, there are no simple answers. No materials available for the
manufacturing of dental equipment are impervious to every chemical,
but some materials are better than others.
A-dec does incorporate the most chemical-resistant materials available
in its product lines, but there are also thousands of dental units in
service that were produced long before the heightened attention to
infection control. Even more planning and care must be given to
prevent premature damage to older equipment.
Just as there are no materials used in the manufacturing of dental
equipment that will withstand every chemical, no chemical should be
considered harmless to dental equipment. Even the surface disinfecting
chemicals previously published in A-dec Instructions for Use as “least
harmful” can damage equipment over time.
In addition to the many chemicals that are available for surface
disinfecting, a wide range of methods are used by practitioners to deal
with surface contamination. These methods can either decrease or
prolong the life of dental equipment. For instance, some dental practices
rely on frequent, copious applications of disinfecting chemicals that
may not only be unnecessary, but also are expensive and damaging.
Other dental practices incorporate single-use barriers and disposable
items that signicantly reduce the frequent need for chemical usage,
prolonging the life of the equipment.
Besides surface disinfectants, there are many other factors contributing
to dental equipment damage. Handpiece lubricants, residual sulfur in
latex gloving, chemical sterilants, heat, humidity, cleaning chemicals,
the applicators used to apply cleaning and disinfecting chemicals,
ultraviolet light, dental treatment materials, and high mineral content
water are just some factors related to dental equipment damage.
Surface Management is a term used at A-dec to describe the collective
use of products and methods to deal with equipment asepsis issues.
With proper surface management techniques, effective infection control
can be ensured and practitioners can protect dental equipment from
premature damage. The question should not simply be “What surface
disinfectant should I use?” The question should be “How can I best
manage the surfaces on my dental equipment?”
BIOHAZARD Biohazard from dental equipment can result in
life threatening disease to patients and staff. Use appropriate
precautions including PPE (Personal Protective Equipment),
barriers, disinfection, and sterilization to minimize exposure
hazard.
85.0696.00 Rev R
A-dec Equipment Asepsis Guide
Surface Management Protocol
Keeping previous issues in mind, the following is A-dec’s recommended
surface management protocol:
1. Heat sterilize all items that enter the oral cavity (or use single-use
disposable replacements). A-dec and related products that are
designed for use in the oral cavity include the following. (Many
other items found in the dental operatory fall into this category as
well).
• High speed handpieces *
• Attachments *
• Tooth dryers
• High volume evacuator (HVE) and saliva ejector (SE) tips
• Syringe tips
• Intraoral cameras **
• Ultrasonic instruments
• Curing lights †
* While bur tools are not used in the oral cavity, they are used on handpieces and must
also be pre-cleaned and heat sterilized.
** The intraoral camera uses sheaths and should not be sterilized.
†
Only the curing light rod should be removed and sterilized.
2. Identify and manage touch surfaces and transfer surfaces, reducing
their number in the dental operatory.
Touch surfaces are those areas that require contact and become potential
cross-contamination points during dental procedures. The key word
is require. Many surfaces in the dental operatory could be touched
during dental procedures, but only a few require touching. For example,
dental lights typically are repositioned (and thus, touched) during most
procedures. If only the light handle is touched during this positioning
and not the housing, arm, or other parts of the light, the number of
touch surfaces has, in effect, been minimized.
Also, the light switch could be operated with the forearm, eliminating it
as a touch surface. Surfaces contaminated by contact with instruments
or other inanimate objects are identied as transfer surfaces. Handpiece
holders and instrument trays are examples of transfer surfaces. Well
thought-out operatory setup and disciplined chairside procedures will
contribute to reducing the number of transfer surfaces in the operatory.
3. Use barriers (covers) on all touch surfaces and transfer surfaces
(unless the surface is on an item that enters the oral cavity, which
must be heat sterilized or disposed). Replace barriers between
patients. Use barriers made from waterproof material. Use care to
prevent cross-contamination when removing a contaminated barrier
cover.
4. Use surface disinfectants on touch and transfer surfaces between
patients only, and once at the end of each clinic day when it is
evident that the barriers have been compromised. Always follow
the label instructions on surface disinfectant products, including
any specified kill-time.
5. Use mild cleaners on all splash and splatter surfaces. Splash and
splatter surfaces (also referred to as aerosol surfaces) include all
operatory surfaces that are not touch surfaces, transfer surfaces, or
parts of items that enter the oral cavity. Use surface disinfectant on
a splash and splatter surface only when it has been visibly
contaminated. At least once each day, clean all splash and splatter
surfaces with a mild cleaning solution. Never use abrasive cleansers,
brushes, or scrubbing pads. Damp surfaces should always be dried
with a lint-free cloth.
Limit the touching of splash and splatter surfaces to those who wear
cleaning gloves while performing cleaning procedures.
NOTE Do not use “latex gloves” for cleaning procedures.
Cleaning gloves should be made from nitrile rubber.
Puncture and chemically resistant utility gloves should be
used for all cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
6. Use chair headrest barriers. The adjustment knob or lever on the
back of a chair headrest is a touch surface that may need to be
adjusted mid-procedure, and should therefore be covered with a
barrier. The headrest barrier also protects the chair vinyl from the
many hair treatment products used by your patients that could
damage the headrest upholstery.
2
Loading...