Our Sterilization Standards

The safety of our patients and our team is our top priority. We complete the most rigorous clinical sterilization procedures after each and every patient to prevent disease transmission of any kind.

Treatment Room Disinfection

After each patient is seen, the clinical treatment room is completely disinfected from head to toe. All disposables are immediately removed while used and unused instruments are moved to our sterilization room and run through our rigorous sterilization protocol. All room surfaces are then wiped with a powerful and fast-acting disinfectant that kills almost all bacteria, viruses, and fungi in 30 seconds, and even the most resistant remaining diseases including tuberculosis in just 60 seconds.

Our disinfectant's demonstrated virucidal efficacy extends to new and emerging pathogens. 1 minute virucidal contact time applies to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Disinfectants

Ultrasonic Enzymatic Cleaning

We use highly effective enzymatic cleaning solution to soak used and non-sterile dental instruments in an ultrasonic cleaner. This solution combined with the rapid movement of ultrasonic waves can clean instruments and remove any biological debris prior to sterilization. This process is necessary to ensure pressurized superheated steam can reach all instrument surfaces for proper sterilization during autoclaving. The ultrasonic process helps to protect our team by mostly eliminating the more risky manual process of scrubbing sharp instruments individually.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

Autoclaving

After the ultrasonic cleaning cycle is complete, instruments are dried, sealed in date-stamped sterilization pouches, and sterilized in an autoclave. Autoclaving is a scientifically proven method that sterilizes using pressurized saturated steam at 250°F for 20 minutes. Each sterilization pouch is equipped with chemical indicators to confirm that sterilization of the pouch's contents has occurred. If the date that is stamped on the pouch has passed, the contents are no longer considered sterile and will not be used until they are processed through the autoclave again.

Autoclave

Weekly Spore Tests

In addition to the autoclaving process that sterilizes our instruments, we take extra precautions by performing weekly spore tests with an independent lab. This confirms that not only is our autoclave working properly, but that it's able to kill microorganisms as well as the most highly resistant strains of bacteria.

Spore Tests

Universal Precautions

Our office uses the Universal Precautions approach to infection control. This style of infection control means that we treat all human blood and bodily fluids as if they were known to be infectious regardless of patient supplied medical information. This ensures that no chance exists of contracting a disease or coming into contact with a pathogen that may yet be unknown to the carrier.

Universal Precautions

Personal Protective Equipment

Our clinicians wear properly rated Personal Protective Equipment for each and every clinical patient interaction. This equipment protects our team and also ensures that they are unable to transmit any disease to our patients.

Gloves and Mask