How to Clean a Dental Office & Instruments

As a dental assistant or dental hygienist, part of your job description includes making sure that the dental office is sanitized and the instruments are sterilized. Failing to properly clean the room or the instruments can result in the spread of communicable diseases, such as the common cold, influenza, stomach viruses and rarely, hepatitis or HIV.

Things You'll Need

• Disposable gloves
• Surface disinfectant
• Paper towels
• Disposable germicidal wipes
• Ultrasonic cleaning machine with solution
• Cold sterilization fluid
• Autoclave

Show More

Instructions

Sanitizing the Exam Room

• 1

  Clear the room of all instruments that will be leaving the room, after putting on exam gloves and a face mask. Put any paper garbage, including the headrest cover and patient bib, in the trash can. Place any needles or disposable instruments in the container designated for biohazardous sharp items. Follow your office protocol when disposing of saliva ejectors.

• 2

  Clean all of the surfaces in the room. Spray the chairs and counters with the disinfectant spray. Wipe the spray off with the paper towels. Spray a second time, then leave it to air dry.

• 3

  Use a disposable germicidal wipe to wipe down the handpiece plugs, the water ejector, the light handles and any electrical equipment that was used. Use a second wipe to clean all of the items again, then allow to air dry.

• 4

  Run the water through the handpiece and water lines for several seconds. Spray the suction hoses with disinfectant spray, then run sink water through them. Spray again and allow to dry.

Sterilizing the Instruments

• 5

  Place any disposable instruments in the designated container for sharp or biohazardous items. Don't forget to wear exam gloves and a face mask.

• 6

  Fill the ultrasonic machine with ultrasonic solution mixed at the proper ratio with water. Follow the directions on the bottle. Place all of the instruments in the machine and run it for the recommended amount of time. Remove the instruments when the cycle is over.

• 7

  Place any plastic instruments into the cold sterilization solution. Follow your office protocol and the manufacturer's directions in determining the length of time to soak the instruments. When the instruments are done soaking in the solution, rinse them well with clean water and dry them with paper towels. The instruments are now sterilized and ready for the next patient.

• 8

  Place all metal instruments in the autoclave. Follow your office protocol in determining how often and for how long to run the machine. When the cycle is over, allow the instruments to cool. The instruments will now be ready for the next patient.