How to Clean & Process Dental Instruments

Properly cleaning contaminated dental instruments--the responsibility of a dental assistant--prevents the spread of disease-causing microorganisms from one patient to another. Critical instruments that penetrate soft tissue or bone must be sterilized by heat. Semicritical instruments that touch mucous membranes or broken skin also must be heat-sterilized or receive high-level disinfection, according to "Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting."

Things You'll Need

• Personal protective equipment (gown, mask, eyewear, utility gloves)
• Covered sturdy, leakproof container
• Instrument cassettes
• Ultrasonic cleaner
• Sink
• Towel
• Sterilization packages
• Chemical process indicators (such as autoclave tape and strips)
• Pen
• Autoclave
• Distilled water
• Instrument tray

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Instructions

Cleaning and Sterilization Process

• 1

  Put on a protective gown, mask, eyewear and utility gloves. Transport the contaminated instruments in a sturdy, leakproof, covered container to the initial receiving area of the sterilization area in the dental office.

• 2

  Place the loose instruments or cassettes of instruments in the basket of an ultrasonic cleaner. Turn the cycle to "on" for 5 to 15 minutes until the instruments are visibly clean (the ultrasonic cleaner uses sound waves to loosen and remove debris from instruments). Afterward, remove the basket and thoroughly rinse the instruments in a sink under tap water, and gently turn the basket onto a towel to remove the instruments or cassettes.

• 3

  In the clean area of the instrument-processing area, place the instruments in sterilization packaging. Place a chemical indicator (for example, strips) inside the package to ensure the instruments are exposed to the correct pressure, temperature and time. If a chemical monitoring indicator such as color-change markings is not visible on the outside of the package, place an external process indicator (for example, autoclave tape) on the package to ensure the package has been exposed to a certain temperature, and label the package in ink.

• 4

  Load the autoclave (which sterilizes dental instruments using steam under pressure). Place packages on their edges in single layers or on racks to increase circulation of the sterilizing agent. Add an adequate supply of distilled water to the autoclave if necessary, and set the autoclave for the right time, temperature and pressure (for example, 250 degrees Fahrenheit at 15 pounds of pressure for 30 minutes). Following the cycle, open the autoclave door and leave the instruments to dry and cool before removing them.

• 5

  Store the instruments in a clean and dry environment. Rotate the packages so that those with the oldest sterilization dates are used first.

• 6

  Deliver the instrument packages to their area of use on a tray, ensuring the sterility of the instruments are maintained. Inspect the packages for damage.