Principles and methods of disinfection and sterilization of dental instruments​

According to the risk level of dental instruments, appropriate disinfection and sterilization methods should be chosen and the following principles should be followed:

1. All medical instruments that enter the patient’s mouth must meet the requirements of “one person, one use, one sterilization” .

2. Dental equipment of various kinds that come into contact with wounds, blood or body fluids, damaged mucous membranes, or sterile tissues of the human body, including dental high-speed handpiece,dental low-speed handpiece,dental bur, root canal treatment equipment, dental extraction equipment, dental surgical equipment, periodontal treatment equipment, dressings and so on, before use must achieve sterilization.

3. Dental instruments that are in contact with the patient’s entire mucosa and skin, including mouth mirrors, probes, dental tweezers, various kinds of physical measuring instruments used as adjunctive therapy, Impression Trays, Mouthwash Cups, etc. , disinfection must be achieved before use.

4.Where contact with the patient’s body fluids, blood repair, orthodontic model and other items, sent to the workshop before the operation must be cleaned and disinfected.

5. The dental chair and its supporting facilities should be cleaned and disinfected daily, and should be cleaned and disinfected in time in case of pollution.

6. The personnel who clean, disinfect or sterilize the oral diagnostic and therapeutic instruments shall do a good job of personal protection in the process of operation.

Classification	Name of instrument	Disinfection method
Root Canal instrument	Enlarged Needle, dental bur, k file, removal needle, smooth needle, dental handpiece	Autoclave sterilization
Tooth extraction instrument	Extraction forceps, collars (incl. large, medium, small) , chisel, gum separator, left and right curved root collars, curved root collars, t-shaped collars, bone files	Autoclave sterilization
Periodontal  instrument	Periodontal probe, left and right gingival knife, tooth cleaner	Autoclave sterilization
	scaler	Disinfection
Orthodontic instrument	Probe, mouth mirror, tweezers, mouth opener	Autoclave sterilization
	Needle-holding pliers, golden crown cutter, belt looper, belt looper	Disinfection
Repair equipment	Impression tray, crown remover, filler, digging spoon, mixing knife, glass plate, silver amalgam blending machine, carving knife, grinding head, fixed tooth, movable denture, aligner, belt ring	Choose the disinfection method according to the material
Auxiliary Treatment Equipment	Curing light,endo apex locator,Impression tray,Mouth cup,Three ways syringe	Choose the disinfection method according to the material