Effective decontamination of instruments and following a strict cross-infection regime in accordance with HTM 01-05 is of paramount importance. Instruments must be cleaned, lubricated and then correctly sterilised. Following effective cleaning, dental handpieces require lubricating with manufacturer recommended service oil or using an automatic system such as the Assistina Twin from W&H with a cycle time of 10 seconds, prior to sterilisation.

Manufacturer’s instructions should always be adhered to, whether lubricating manually or using an automatic system. Bagging and sterilisation then follows in accordance with manufacturer instructions, HTM 01-05 and/or other appropriate guidelines. The autoclave is a key piece of equipment in any dental practice and clean saturated steam under pressure is by far the most reliable medium for the sterilisation of medical devices. For unrivalled sterilisation, W&H offers dental practices the Lara steriliser with a 38-minute cycle for an average load and a fast cycle from 20 minutes.

Trust and understanding quash panic, create an environment patients feel safe within. Infection prevention and control is fundamental to ensuring this, and patients are more likely to feel reassured by you explaining some of the steps you take to ensure they are protected from potentially harmful diseases.