SAN DIEGO PROSTHODONTICS is proud to offer the latest in modern sterilization and disinfection techniques. Vigorous safeguards, exacting cleaning procedures and controlled professional standards are designed to protect the health and welfare of both patients and practitioners.
Some of our patients have questions regarding the protocol followed during disinfection and sterilization of instruments, hand pieces and treatment rooms. You will find our office follows the "universal precautions" as outlined by the American Dental Association and Center of Disease Control.
All instruments are thoroughly pre-cleaned ultrasonically before they are put into a steam autoclave. The steam autoclave uses heated, pressure and vaporized water to sterilize instruments in a closed chamber. Each instrument is then hand dried.
Dental assistants are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in each operatory. We use disinfection procedures on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as counter tops, drawer handles, x-ray unit heads and light handles. A sterile disinfectant cleaning solution, Birex, is used to wipe down all counters, suction hoses, and hand piece connectors before and after each patient. You will also notice that we use disposable barriers on surfaces such as light handles that are touched during treatment.
The use of a closed dental unit water system which operates independently from municipal water supplies prevents mineral deposits from adhering to our instruments and in our water lines. Our dental units are not connected to municipal water supplies. This prevents contamination of the inside of the water lines used in each treatment operatory. We use distilled water in all of our operatories.
We want you to be assured that we are committed to providing you with a safe and healthy environment when you visit our office for dental treatment. The health and safety of our patients is our number one priority.
