Page 32 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

completed. This reduces cross-contamination from handling the instruments and also reduces the processing time. Too much handling of the instruments can cause workers to drop or damage them or stick themselves with the sharp objects.
After debris is removed from the instruments, they are positioned in a cassette or on a tray according to the sequence in which they were used. The cassette is kept together during cleaning and sterilization as the instruments can be washed and sterilized in the cassette. Following proper sterilization techniques, the dental assistants can store the cassettes in a readily accessible area. Using cassettes allows for easier training of the new staff.
CLEANING AND STERILIZING HANDPIECES
(15) All high-speed dental handpieces, low-speed handpieces, rotary components and dental unit attachments such as reusable air/water syringe tips and ultrasonic scaler tips, shall be packaged, labeled and heat-sterilized in a manner consistent with the same sterilization practices as a semi-critical item.
The Board’s Infection Control Regulations state that all handpieces should be treated with a heating process capable of sterilization between each patient use. In use, handpieces rarely contract open wounds and should be considered semi-critical. However, the spray generated readily covers the handpiece and, because of its construction and inner workings, the inside of the handpiece is often contaminated. Surface disinfection cannot eliminate this contamination. Therefore sterilization that will penetrate to the internal parts of the handpiece is required for all rotary devices.
Dental handpieces are precision instruments that will give many years of trouble-free service if they are installed, operated, and maintained according to the manufacturer’s directions. The dental assistant should read, understand, and follow the instructions for the handpieces. These instructions are usually well-illustrated and quite easy to follow. In a short period, the dental assistant will become familiar with the maintenance and cleaning procedures for the equipment used in many professional settings.
SINGLE-USE ITEMS – DISPOSABLE ITEMS
Several single-use items are used in dentistry today. Because these items are used on only one patient and then discarded, they help to reduce the chance for patient-to-patient contamination. It must be clear that the act of immersing single-use items in a cold chemical solution is not allowed in California.
Intro Page - 32
Introductory Chapter: Dental Practice Act, Infection Control and Cal-OSHA
The California RDAEF: A Compendium for Licensure Success © The Foundation for Allied Dental Education, Inc. 2016 Copyright protected. All rights reserved