Sterilization is a process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms). All dental instruments used in our clinic are sterilized to prevent cross contamination and cross infection for all patients' safety.
Ever wondered how the used instruments are sterilized?
The used instruments are thoroughly cleaned.
Then they are immersed in an enzyme cleaner solution for at least 2 hours. This solution is placed in an ultrasonic bath cleaner. After immersing it for 2 hours the instruments are cleaned using ultrasonic waves. This ensures that all debris is cleaned out and nothing is left on the instruments.
After cleaning it with ultrasonic waves, the instruments are cleaned again under running water so as to remove residue of solution. These instruments are then dried and packed in pouches and are sealed. Now no organisms can enter these pack sealed pouches. These pouches are marked with the date on which sterilization takes place.
These pouched instruments are then sterilized using an autoclave. We have latest Class B autoclave. Sterilization in autoclave kills all present organisms and also ensures that no organisms survive on the instruments. Once the instruments are sterilized, the pouches are kept properly and are opened only when required for a patient. The instruments are untouched as they are seal packed before sterilization.
We follow internationally accepted protocols for Sterilization of instruments used in our clinic.
Along with sterilization of instruments it is equally important to do Sterilization Monitoring to check the quality of sterilization.
Each sterilization cycle in our clinic is chemically monitored using chemical sterilization indicators present on sealed autoclave pouches and a sterilization indicator tape.
We have been doing third party Biological Sterilization Monitoring every month past 3 years and have been awarded certificate for proper sterilization technique by Tejas Lab in consultation with University of Louisville.
Proper Instrument Sterilization and infection control is one of the main criteria assessed in the process of NABH Accreditation of our clinic.
HAPPY SMILES DENTAL CLINIC FOLLOWS GLOBAL Sterilization Monitoring Standards RECOMMENDED BY:
• (ADA)-American Dental Association
• (OSAP)-Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, A Global dental SafetyOrganization
• (OSHA)-Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• (CDA)-Canadian Dental Association
• (CDC)-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• (ANSI)-American National Standards Institute
• Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
• (AAP)-American Academy of Pediatrics
• (RCDSO)-Royal College Of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
• Alberta Dental Association & College
• (ADA)-Australian Dental Association
• New Zealand Dental Council
• (DCI)-Dental Council Of India
• (NABH)-National Accreditation Board For Hospitals and Healthcare Providers
• (AMA)-American Medical Association
• (AAMI)-Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
and is Sterilization Monitoring Certified for your safety by Tejas Labs in technical consultation with University of Louisville, School of Dentistry.
What is Sterilization Monitoring ?
Sterilization Monitoring is a process of testing the efficacy of the Sterilization through the use of Biological Indicators/spore strips and is the most accepted means of monitoring the sterilization process.
Sterilization Monitoring is mandatory in many countries and is recommended by leading dental regulatory bodies and associations :
ADA -American Dental Association
"Biological monitors should be used routinely to verify the adequacy of sterilization cycles. Weekly verification should be adequate for most dental practices."- Council on Scientific Affairs and Council of Dental Practice, JADA, May 1996
OSAP-Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention,A Global dental Safety Organisation
Biological monitoring (spore-testing) is still the medico-legal standard for sterilizer quality assurance and is required by many state dental practice acts. There are a number of factors that contribute to sterilization failure that the computer simply cannot acknowledge.
OSHA -Occupational Safety & Health Administration
"Autoclave efficiency can be verified by means of biological ...indicators. ...documentation kept for the sterilizer...should include results of routine spore testing."- OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.44C, March 6, 1992
CDA-Canadian Dental Asociation Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office:
Biological indicators (BI) (i.e., spore tests) verify the sterilization process directly by assessing the killing of known highly resistant microorganisms.
CDC -Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"Proper functioning of sterilization cycles should be verified by the periodic use of biologic indicators (i.e.,spore tests)."- Recommended Infection-Control Practices for Dentistry, 1993
ANSI / AAMI (American National Standards Institute Inc. / Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation)
“Biological indicators should be used within PCDs for routine sterilizer efficacy monitoring at least weekly,but preferably every day that the sterilizer is in use.”ANSI/AAMI ST79:2006, Section 10.5.3.2
Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses
“For routine monitoring should be used weekly, and as needed; each load of implantables.” (from Recommended Practices, Sterilization & Disinfection, 1987).
AAP-American Academy of Pediatrics
Biological indicators are necessary to ensure sterility. A variety of indicator systems are available. The procedure recommended by the manufacturer to document sterility should be done at least weekly and results should be recorded.”(from June 2000 Policy Statement).
RCDSO Royal College Of Dental Surgeons of Ontario Infection Control Guidelines 2010
Biological indicators (BIs or spore tests) are the most accepted means for monitoring of sterilization,because they directly assess the procedure's effectiveness in killing the most resistant micro-organisms.
Alberta Dental Association & College (ADA&C) Infection Control Manual
Biological indicators, such as bacterial spore strips, are the only accepted method of proving that sterilization conditions have been reached.
Australian Dental Association-Guidelines for Infection Control
Only biological indicators, which use highly heat-resistant spores, actually show that sterility has been achieved The preferred test organism for steam sterilization is Geobacillusstearothermophilus.
New Zealand Dental Council-Codes of Practice(Dentists and Dental Specialists)
Chemical indicators do not indicate sterilisation,only that the load has been exposed to the physical condition the indicator is monitoring,Biological indicators challenge the microbial killing power of the sterilisation process and usually include biological spores.
DCI-Dental Council Of India-Dental Infection Control & Occupational Safety for Oral Health Professionals Monitoring Efficacy of Sterilizers:
“Monthly” sterilization monitoring for all sterilizers is necessary by either using a biological indicator such as a spore-strip containing B. Stearothermophilus and B. Subtilis.
National Accreditation Board For Hospitals and Healthcare Providers Accreditation Standards for Dental Institutions/Hospitals/ Centres:
HIC5 Regular validation tests for Sterilization are carried out and documented by accepted means Eg:Bacteriologic Strips.
Indian Dental Association
Autoclave indicator tape and autoclave indicator bags change colour when the proper temperature has been reached. While the indicator tape quick-check should be conducted with every load, it must be supplemented periodically by use of a biological indicator (such as Bacillus spores) buried in the center of a load to confirm the sterilization.
AMA-American Medical Association
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