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Classification of Common Dental Items
Must be Sterilized: All critical instruments. Anything that penetrates tissue or bone or touches broken skin including: hand instruments, surgical instruments, probes, burs, handpieces (high and low-speed) scalers, ultrasonic scaler tips, curettes, and endodontic instruments.
Must be Disinfected at a High Level (if they cannot be sterilized): All semi-critical instruments. Anything handled during a procedure 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.
Must be Disinfected at (least at) a Low Level: All non-critical instruments. Anything else in the operatory that does not come in contact with the patient's mucosa, like walls, floor, cabinets.
Each office should have a written protocol on dealing with management of injuries, handling of contaminated instruments and disinfecting of the operatory after completion of treatment. All new employees must be trained regarding this protocol.
A copy of all regulations and protocol should be placed in plain view in the dental office.
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Kill Microorganisms
