Just how clean are you?

Decontamination is the process by which reusable items are rendered safe for further use and for staff to handle. Decontamination is required to minimise the risk of cross-infection between patients and between patients and staff. Infection control with a dental handpiece is paramount for the patient, the operator and, of course, the dental nurse. Poor decontamination and maintenance of a dental handpiece can be unsafe – and costly – due to poor processing.

The decontamination of the handpiece must firstly be approached using the manufacturer’s guidance. Some handpieces should be dismantled and lubricated, some can go through a washer-disinfector and others will be processed through a manual process then lubricated. All this can be discovered
by reading the manufacturer’s instructions. Poor maintenance of a dental handpiece can cause a number of issues. The handpiece can seize, causing costly repair fees or, worse case scenario, the need to replace broken handpieces. Failing to follow processing guidance can produce brown rusty water from the handpiece.