How to Sterilize in the Dental Lab

Dental professionals can be potentially exposed to infections through the saliva and blood of a patient. All at-risk dental personnel are regularly trained in infection control and safety issues. It is vitally important that dental lab team members dedicate themselves to ensure the prevention of infectious diseases for themselves as well as for their patients. If single-use disposable items cannot be used, it is crucial that the reusable instruments be sterilized through the appropriate process.

Things You'll Need

• Puncture-resistant utility gloves
• Mask
• Goggles
• Gown
• Autoclave
• Chemical indicator
• Biological indicator
• Sharps container
• Biohazard waste container

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Instructions

• 1

  Wearing protective gear aids in infection control.

  Wash hands and put on protective gear. The process of sterilizing instruments requires the professional to wear puncture-resistant utility gloves, protective goggles, a mask and a protective gown or apron. This maintains infection control within the dental lab and prevents contamination. Gloves, masks and gowns are single-use only and must be discarded after use. Goggles may be sterilized between uses.

• 2

  The autoclave is the recommended choice for sterilizing dental instruments.

  Sterilize the instruments by using an autoclave, unsaturated chemical vapor sterilizer, dry heat sterilizer or ethylene oxide gas sterilizer that has been FDA-approved. Ideally, the instruments should be processed immediately after contact, however time does not always allow. The instruments should be placed into a "holding" solution such as soapy water or a surfactant solution to prevent the drying of blood and debris until sterilization can be established. According to the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, the autoclave is the sterilization method of choice. The journal recommends using one of the following time-temperature combinations with the first option being the most frequently used for dental instruments.

  134-138 degrees Celsius for 3 minutes

  126-129 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes

  121-124 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes

  115-118 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes

• 3

  Mechanical techniques aid in monitoring sterilization procedures.

  Check the indicator. Chemical indicators are manufactured by many companies and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are small strips of thick, labeled paper that are placed inside the autoclave along with the equipment to be sterilized. The indicator strips will change color after sterilization temperatures have been reached. Typically one strip will be placed in the center of the autoclave and one will be placed inside the packaging to make certain sterilization has reached the dental instruments.

• 4

  Proper sterilization techniques prevent the transmission of disease.

  Take out the sterilized instruments and store appropriately. Dental instruments must be kept in the sterilized packaging and put away until ready to use. All waste must be disposed of properly according to local, state and federal regulations. Any items including protective gear that is blood- or saliva-tinged can be thrown out. However, if items are tissue-soaked, they need to be placed in medical waste as a biohazard. Any sharp instruments that will not be used again need to be placed into the puncture resistant sharps container. Dental labs must have the sharps and biohazard containers clearly marked. Always consult state and federal agencies regarding regulations.