Sterilization Protocols

Please rest assured that all the procedures and photos presented in this section are real photos of products that we really use in our clinic, and that you have all the right to inspect any of our sterilization facilities and equipment when you visit us.

Hygiene:
Our main water supply received a water filtration system to ensure a clean supply of water to all our dental units and water taps.
Operating room floors are disinfected at the end of each day using a powerful large surfaces disinfectant.
Our suction system is flushed at the end of each day using a specially designed disinfectant and deodorizing solution that leaves it clean and pleasantly smelling.

Hand Disinfection:
Before proceeding with any dental procedure, all members of the staff who will actively share in our patients treatment have to go through a process of disinfecting their hands using a special hand disinfectant. The water tap in our operatory is foot-operated so that at any stage of the procedure the operator can use it free-hand.

Apparel:
All operators and assistants wear full protective apparel and cross infection barriers in the form of scrubs or lab coats, disposable masks and gloves.

Instruments:
Each patient is provided with a sterile tray containing the most commonly used instruments and supplies such as diagnostic set, syringe and cotton rolls. Any extra instruments needed for special procedures are provided by the assistant in a sterile fashion and placed inside the tray. A sterile waste container is also provided for each patient.
Handpieces are the turbines that we use in almost every dental procedure and we have an abundance of them to provide each of our patients with his own packaged sterile handpiece.
Whenever possible, we try to use disposable instruments and supplies, and whenever we use them we try to have them sterilized and not only clean!!

Fixed items disinfection:
Items which can not be sterilized such as the dental units, spittoons and operatory benches and tables are disinfected between patients using a special disinfectant spray that is effective on pathogenic bacteria and viruses; such as HIV and HCV; in only 30 seconds.

Any surface or item that would probably be touched by any of our staff during the procedure is covered by a specially designed self-stick barrier film or cover, and as previously mentioned we even try to have such barriers sterile and not only clean. Obviously these barrier films are exchanged in between patients.

Pre-disinfection and sterilization processes:
All contaminated instruments are collected in a hygienic manner and treated with an enzymatic solution inside an ultrasonic cleaning device that effectively removes any blood or debris that might be hanging on the instruments. This solution not only removes the stains but it actually acts as a disinfectant against the most common pathogenic bacteria and viruses in 15 minutes. This solution is changed after each cleaning cycle.

Instruments that can be sterilized are then wrapped and sealed inside sterilization pouches that are designed to allow effective steam sterilization of the instruments in an autoclave and maintain them in a sterile state till needed. Our autoclave is a state of the art class B autoclave that allows safe and effective sterilization of all types of instruments even those with hollow tubes such as handpieces and surgical suction tips.

Instruments that are heat instable such as plastics undergo a second disinfection cycle overnight in another specially formulated disinfectant solution that is effective against all known pathogenic bacteria, viruses and even bacterial spores.

Surgical procedures:
During any surgical procedure such as removal of impacted teeth or placement of dental implants, our dental clinic changes into an operating theater!! We use a disposable sterile kit of sheets and covers for every part of the room; nothing that can come in contact with any of our operators, assistants or equipment is left exposed. Our patient is surgically draped and covered using the same disposable sterile covers so that only his/her oral cavity can appear through them. The operator and his assistant wear full protective apparel in the form of disposable sterile surgical gowns, head caps, surgical gloves and overshoes. In short, it is sterilization to its utmost!!