Dental handpieces are a semi-critical patient care item, meaning they come into contact with patients’ mucous membranes and skin that isn’t intact. Dental practices must sterilize these items after every patient to reduce the risks of cross-contamination and transmission. Before handpieces can be sterilized, however, they must first be processed to ensure the sterilization is effective.
Why Pre-Sterilization Processing Is Important
Preparing dental handpieces for sterilization is important for:
- Effective cleaning: Debris and bacteria in handpieces shield microorganisms, making the sterilization process less effective. Processing before sterilization removes the debris and bacteria, so the sterilization process works correctly.
- Handpiece maintenance: Following proper pre-sterilization protocols helps the handpieces last longer and provide reliable performance. As a result, your dental practice can save on equipment costs by replacing handpieces less frequently.
- Patient care: Pre-sterilization is critical for reducing the risk of disease transmission. The internal surfaces of handpieces can become contaminated, so processing them before sterilization prevents the next patient from being exposed to infection.
High-Speed Handpiece Pre-Sterilization Steps
Use this process to prepare your dental handpieces for sterilization. Take care not to skip any steps, following this order for the best results.
1. Contamination Removal
The handpiece is cleaned to remove debris and organic contaminants, such as blood and saliva. You can use automated cleaning equipment, like ultrasonic cleaners, which are more effective than manual cleaning and decrease workers’ exposure to debris. Otherwise, sterilization wipes or isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel or dry tissue are also effective.
2. Oiling and Lubrication
The handpiece should then be lubricated to protect its internal turbine and gears from the autoclave’s extreme temperatures. You can lubricate with maintenance oil, spraying it into the air port or connection point. Use a dry cloth to remove excess oil. Lubricate handpieces sparingly — overdoing it can cause damage to the device.
3. Packaged for Sterilization
Handpieces are prepared for the autoclave when the cleaning and oiling processes are complete. Each component should be inspected, wrapped and stored in a sterile container. This package should be labeled with the sterilizer used, date of sterilization and the cycle or load number.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some of the most common questions we receive about how high-speed handpieces should be processed before sterilization.
Which Dental Handpieces Need Processing Before Sterilization?
Reusable dental handpieces that can be heat-sterilized using an autoclave or similar machine must be pre-sterilized. These components include:
How Often Should Dental Handpieces Be Pre-Sterilized?
Personnel should pre-sterilize handpieces between patients to reduce the risk of transmitting a disease, and before they are sterilized to prevent microorganisms from compromising the sterilization process.
Is Surface Cleaning Alone an Effective Method for Sterilizing Dental Handpieces?
Contamination removal via automated cleaning equipment, sterilization wipe or a dry towel should not be the only form of sterilization you use on your handpiece. While surface cleaning removes contaminants, handpieces must undergo the full sterilization process after every use for performance and patient safety.
Who Is Responsible for Pre-Sterilization Processing in Dental Offices?
Any dental health care personnel who have training on pre-sterilization steps and equipment can process handpieces. Assigning this responsibility to trained employees ensures your handpieces are properly sterilized and safe for patient use. Personnel should wear appropriate personal protective equipment when handling contaminated handpieces.
How Should Dental Handpieces Attached to an Airline or Waterline be Processed?
Some dental handpieces can be removed from the dental unit waterline or airline. Remove these pieces, and evaluate the manufacturer’s guidelines for information about pre-sterilization. For cordless devices that don’t have an airline or waterline, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and FDA regulations.
Shop Quality Dental Handpieces From ProDentUSA Today
When it’s time to upgrade or replace the handpieces in your dental office, ProDentUSA has the components you need. Our handpieces are made from stainless steels, offering long-lasting and corrosion-resistant properties. The durability and reliability of our handpieces are backed by the ProDent Promise for satisfactory performance. If, for any reason, you are unsatisfied, we’ll provide a free replacement within one year of purchase.
Explore our dental handpieces online, and contact us for more information about high-speed handpiece sterilization.
