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Volume3 Issue2
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S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
Doyouhaveanyburningclinicalquestions related toyoureverydaypractice?Areyou facingachallenging
clinicalcaseandneedadvice?Sendyourqueries toOasisDiscussions forexpertguidance.The following
questionwassubmitted toOasisDiscussionsbyageneraldentist.Drs.NitaMazuratandSuhamAlexander
provideda response.
Question
What is themost responsible and efficient way for dental offices to clean an operatory between
patients, andwhat disinfectants shouldwe be using—andwhere?
OasisDiscussions
AskYourColleagues
Response
Clinicianswant fast, economical, andeffective solutions
for disinfection.With somanyproductson themarket, it’s
hard to knowhow tochoose. Consider these factors:
Choose aproductwith aDrug Identification
Number
InCanada, theDrug IdentificationNumber (DIN) indicates
that theproductmeetsHealthCanada’s FoodandDrugs
Acts standards and its claimshavebeenvalidated.
Use an intermediate-level disinfectant forpa-
tient contact areas that arecontaminatedor are
potentiallycontaminatedwithbloodor saliva.
TheCenters for DiseaseControl and
Prevention 2003Guidelines for Infection
Control inDental Health-Care Settings
1
recommend that an “intermediate-
level disinfectant shouldbe used
when the surface is visibly
contaminatedwithbloodor other
potentially infectiousmaterial
(OPIM).” Because saliva is often
difficult to see on surfaces,
an intermediate-level
disinfectant shouldbe
used routinely between
patients on surfaces that
havebeen touched
during treatment or
wherebody fluidsmay
be deposited as a result
of treatment.
Routinecleaning, rather thancleaningonlywhen the
surface is visiblycontaminated, eliminates theuncertainty
aroundwhether or not a surface is contaminatedand is
apotential fomite for cross-contamination in thedental
office. It is important that surfaces arefirst cleaned
vigorously—also knownas sanitization—to removeall
organicand inorganicmaterial. Thedisinfectant is then
useda second time, preferablydeliveredbyawipe,
allowingadequate time for thedisinfectant tobe in
contactwith the surfaceaccording to themanufacturer’s
recommendations.
Housekeeping surfaces (e.g., floors,walls) shouldbe
cleaned regularlywithdetergent andwater or a registered
hospital-level disinfect or detergent designed for house-
keeping. Spills shouldbewiped immediately.
Read themanufacturer’s instructions
Disinfectantsmustbeusedaccording to themanufactur-
er’s instructions tobeeffective. Payattention toproduct
shelf life, dilution, temperature, applicationmethod, and
product contact timewith surface.
Cleanbeforedisinfecting
As instructedabove, cleaning is anessential part of disin-
fectionbecause removingorganicor inorganicmaterial
from surfaces allows thedisinfectant tocontactmicro-
organismson the surface. Theoverall time required for
decontaminatinganoperatorybetweenpatients canbe
reducedbyusingbarriers for areas that receiveahigher
bioburden. For example, clear plasticwrapcanbeusedas
abarrier on light handles.
Needexpertadvice?Send
usyourclinicalquestions.
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