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Classification of Common Dental Items
Critical instruments: Anything that penetrates tissue or contacts bone, the bloodstream, other normally sterile tissues (of the mouth) or touches broken skin including: needles, hand instruments, surgical instruments, probes, burs, scalers, ultrasonic scaler tips, curettes, and endodontic instruments must be sterile, and if reusable, sterilized after each use.
Semi-critical instruments: Anything handled, such as mouth mirrors, amalgam condensers, and dental handpieces, that during a procedure contacts oral tissue but does not penetrate the mucous membrane, and anything within the range of droplets from the air/water syringe, high-speed drill, or the patient coughing ideally should be sterilized and must be disinfected at a high level if they cannot be sterilized.
Non-critical instruments and devices are instruments and devices that contact intact skin. Examples are X-ray heads, facebows, pulse oximeter, and blood pressure cuffs.
Anything else in the operatory that does not come in contact with the patient's mucosa, like walls, floor, cabinets must be cleaned and disinfected at (at least) a low to intermediate level of disinfectant.
Personal Protective Equipment: includes items such as gloves, masks, protective eyewear and protective attire (gown/labcoats) which are intended to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids.
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Treatment Zone
Sterile or high level disinfectant used after every patient. Instruments, bracket table, ultrasonic scaler tips, impression trays, handpieces, suction and evacuation tips, air/water syringe tip, gloved hands of operator.
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Treatment Fringe, Spatter Zone
High level disinfectant used after every patient. Chair, switches, handles, cuspidor, counters, amalgamator, bracket table supports, light, handpiece hoses, evacuation hoses, controls on ultrasonic scaler, cabinet facings, protective eyewear, x-ray viewer, sink. |
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Other Surfaces in the Room
Intermediate to low level disinfectant, clean regularly. Walls, floors, door handles, drawers, pictures, chair base, rheostat, pens, inside cabinets, bathrooms. |
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Microorganisms
