Automated Sterilization Monitoring

Dental clinics who have become early adopters of automated sterilization monitoring systems, are being recognized as clinics who are ahead of the curve. The latest technology does require a significant initial investment but the results are more accurate results and a decrease in the risk of spreading infectious diseases.

In Canada, there have been reports of a patient coming in contact with an infectious disease after visiting a dental clinic. Although this is rare, the problem usually steams from improper labeling of sterilization of their tools. Ontario has been a forerunner in the revision of the Infection Prevention and Control checklist for dental clinics. This checklist was updated in 2019 and gives guidelines for the reprocessing of dental/medical equipment and devices. It is important as a clinic to stay up to date on the ever-evolving regulations so that you do not unintentionally fail to comply.

One of the most important steps on the checklist is the record keeping of the sterilization of dental instruments and devices. A log of sterilization should be maintained and reviewed on a regular basis. Although there is no specific guideline on how this is to be done there are a lot of advantages of streamlining the process by using technology to help your clinic maintain accurate and organized results.

When records are manually being kept, there is room for human error as well as environmental error. For example, manual labeling can be time consuming and requires an entry into a separate log where mistakes can happen.

In conclusion, there are clear guidelines for dental clinics across Canada to follow, they change slightly from province to province but generally are the same across the country. There is always risk of human error but automating the system of sterilization monitoring can significantly reduce the chance of error, which in turn, will decrease the risk of any liability for the dental clinic. There is an initial investment in the technology, however, it will considerably reduce the risk of spreading any infectious diseases for your patients. Along with this, it will save staff time and increase compliance by streamlining the process.

If you are interested in automating your sterilization monitoring, there is no better time than now. If you have any questions, you can reach out to our knowledge team by calling 800-665-7302 or by emailing sales@central-dental.ca.

RESOURCES
https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/managing-records-necessary-for-sterilization-of-instruments-and-devices/https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/outside-the-box-sterilization-monitoring