How to Sterilize Medical Instruments

 Today there is a growing need for more sophisticated sterilization technologies in  dental .

 

 

 

 

Steps

 

 

 

We make sure the instruments are free from all residual matter, such as blood or organic tissue. Instruments must also be dry and free from mineral deposits. Such substances may cause damage to the instruments or sterilizer. If not cleaned properly it may affect  the health of the patient

    Clean instruments immediately after use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      After cleaning, rinse for 30 seconds and allow instruments to

      thoroughly dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place cleaned & dried instruments in sterilization pouches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Label with instrument name(s), date and your initials on the pouch and seal them properly before placing them in autoclave.

 

 

 

Make sure that all instruments remain apart during the sterilization cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place empty canisters upside-down in order to prevent accumulation of water.

 

 

 

Do not overload sterilizer trays. Overloading will cause inadequate sterilization & drying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allow a distance of about 1" between trays to permit steam circulation.

 

 

 

Do not stack pouches.

 

 

 

Keep a record in a log sheet, using initials of operator, date sterilized, minutes of cycle, heat of sterilizer (max) and results, if known (indicator strip turned color, biological control run if performed. Records should be kept by company for as long as any patient or client records are preserved.