Reprocessing Dental Instruments Effectively
By Mary Olivera , MHA , CRCST , CHL , FCS
For most people , going to the dentist can be a frightening experience . The setting alone — the dentist chair , bright lights , and an array of dental instruments — can make many feel as though they are in an operating room . Coupled with fears of pain that can result from dental procedures , it ’ s no wonder that many people feel some degree of discomfort .
However , visiting the dentist as a sterile processing professional is different . While many of us are comfortable in the operating room setting , we may find ourselves noticing things invisible to the average patient . We may wonder if the instruments were processed appropriately or if the manufacturer ’ s instructions for use ( IFUs ) were followed . Our eyes may remain fixed on every sterilized pouch to ensure that it was properly sealed and that the chemical indicator changed color . We may even ask questions about the process to determine if it is “ safe ” to be in the chair .
At major healthcare organizations , the centralization and standardization of reprocessing services has shifted dental instruments reprocessing from standalone clinics into sterile processing departments ( SPDs ). This change has had a major impact on SPDs . As a result , SPD technicians must learn entirely new processes for dental instrumentation — from cleaning to sterilization and packaging . They also must navigate entirely new IFUs for handpieces , dental burs , dental surgical instruments , and curing lights . Furthermore , with additional equipment to clean , lubricate , and purge , there ’ s more crowding in decontamination areas and a bigger backlog of instruments for reprocessing , which puts technicians under more stress . This is especially significant as SPDs have to clean and individually peel pouch anywhere from hundreds to thousands of devices , depending on the size of the clinic .
The addition of dental instrument reprocessing to SPDs can create a tremendous burden if SPDs are not empowered with knowledge and equipment to perform necessary tasks . How can we ensure that SPDs are set up for success when it comes to processing dental instruments ?
Planning
It is critical to have a good transition plan before dental instrument reprocessing functions are transferred to the SPD . Many factors must be taken into consideration in order to be able to meet the demands of a busy dental clinic .
●Volume – To get the approximate number of instruments needed for reprocessing , we must consider what procedures are being performed and at what frequency . If a clinic services 200 patients / day , the number of instruments to be reprocessed , including handpieces and accessories , can add up to an additional 200-400 items . Though almost all dental procedures require the use of handpieces and their components , each
procedure requires different types of instrumentation . In a basic dental procedure , like a checkup , the dentist uses approximately 5-6 instruments that are usually in a cassette ( a cassette is the equivalent of a tray , or the container where the instruments are kept for sterilization ). Most of these instruments require careful handling as they are sharp and pointy . There are other procedures like root canals , implants , extractions , etc . that require trays with many more instruments . All these considerations make planning more complex . We can make it easier by requesting relevant data from dental clinic managers , such as procedure statistics , instrument inventory numbers , and volume of special procedures .
●Space – Collecting and staging dental instruments for reprocessing requires extra space in the decontamination area . Some handpieces also require a special machine to clean , lubricate , and purge the internal parts of the device . To be productive , the department must allocate space for more than one handpiece maintenance system in the decontamination area .
●Equipment Needs – Dental procedures are performed at a very fast pace and the instrument turnover is very quick . A comprehensive inventory of handpieces and instrument sets is necessary to ensure time is allotted for transforming , cleaning , and sterilization . It is also important to secure either a repair replacement contract or have spare handpieces and instruments on hand to replace those that break or malfunction .
● Labor Hours – We also need to determine the number of additional labor hours required to reprocess dental instruments . Usually , these hours are transferred from the clinic to the SPD , or hours are added to the SPD to hire additional help . This is an essential step as the task to reprocess these medical devices is labor intensive . Failure to assess labor needs accurately can lead to difficulties in meeting instrument needs of the operating room and the dental clinic .
www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • august 2021
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