COVID-19 Information: Stay up-to-date on government policy, emerging science and patient resources.
ADA COVID-19 Safety and Clinical Resources: Find Resources Here
Along with the proper sterilization of instruments and materials, sterilizer monitoring is an essential part of any in-office infection control program. Many factors can cause sterilization to fail—from procedural errors that are easily remedied, like overloading, to mechanical problems that can take a sterilizer out of service until repairs can be made. Since this variety of factors can influence successful sterilization, the ADA and CDC encourage dentists to regularly assess the efficiency of their in-office sterilizers.2, 8, 9 In addition, state or local regulations may exist regarding frequency and record-keeping issues related to sterilizer monitoring. Check with your state dental board for regulatory information. Sterilization is best monitored using a combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological indicators.8 The CDC has provided the following recommendations:2, 3, 9 Mechanical Indicators
What to Do When Results Confirm Sterilization Failure If the biological indicator test is positive, or the mechanical or chemical test results indicate failure, the sterilizer should not be used until the reason for failure has been identified and corrected.
Before the sterilizer can be returned to service, the biological indicator should return negative results for tests conducted during three consecutive empty-chamber sterilization cycles to ensure that the problem has been corrected.
The CDC website has a section on infection control that is designed for dental professionals. Following are relevant links to additional information from the CDC and other agencies and organizations.
CDC Statement on Reprocessing Dental Handpieces
CDC Boil Water Advisory Information
CDC “DentalCheck” mobile application for iOS (to assist dental facilities with monitoring compliance with recommended infection prevention practices)
Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (www.OSAP.org): The Safest Dental Visit™ Infection Control Educational Program
OSHA: Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care
Postexposure obligations, protocols, resources (for needlesticks and other sharps injuries):
Safe use of needles and other sharps:
Department of Scientific Information, Evidence Synthesis & Translation Research, ADA Science & Research Institute, LLC.
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