Learn about Sterilization at Dental Assistant School in Columbus

sterilizing dental instrumentsOne of the greatest concerns in any dental practice is cleanliness and sanitation throughout the office. Sterilizing and disinfecting dental instruments is especially important in order to prevent the transmission of infection. At dental assistant school in Columbus, you will learn how to properly sterilize the various instruments so that the health and safety of patients is ensured.

Levels of Sterilization

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classify dental instruments into three categories, depending on how high the risk of transmitting infection. These three catgories are:

Critical:Dental instruments that penetrate soft tissue or bone or that may come in contact with blood. These instruments must be sterilized after every use. They include forceps, scalpels, bone chisels and others. Sufficient sterilization is achieved through pressurized steam, dry heat or heat/chemical vapor.

Semi-Critical:This category includes dental tools that may come in contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes but that do not penetrate soft tissue or bone. Some are reusable impression trays, amalgam condensers and mirrors.

Non-Critical:These instruments only come in contact with intact skin. These are what you typically see around the dentist’s chair and include blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters and X-ray heads. Cleansing with an intermediate-level disinfectant is adequate.

What is an Autoclave?

The autoclave sterilizer was invented in 1879. A very basic autoclave is similar to a pressure cooker; both use the power of steam to kill bacteria, spores and germs that are resistant to boiling water and powerful detergents. Also called dental sterilizers, these reach temperatures as high 270 degrees Fahrenheit to completely sterilize instruments.

How Does Ultrasonic Cleaning Work?

Ultrasonic baths take advantage of a process called cavitation, when high frequency sound waves create microscopic vacuum bubbles. When these bubbles are forced against the object being disinfected, they collapse and force the surrounding cleaning solution to fire into the space the bubbles once occupied.

This creates a powerful scrubbing action that gets into even the tiniest spaces. This is highly advantageous when cleaning dental instruments.

Sterilization Steps with an Autoclave

There are six steps in the sterilization process of dental instruments:

  • Cleaning, both manual and mechanical
  • Rinsing with filtered water
  • Drying with compressed air pistols, paper towels or a clean lint-free cloth
  • Visual inspection
  • Sterilization packaging of instruments in material that allows the passage of steam
  • Sterilization to destroy or eliminate all microbial life forms

As a student in the dental assistant program in Columbus, you will learn further details about the sterilization process. Call the program now to enroll in the next set of classes to become a dental assistant.

 

About Dental Assistant Pro

Would you like to enter the rewarding field of dental assisting? Dental Assistant Pro offers a program of 10 Saturday classes that includes lectures and hands-on training. We operate in a state-of-the-art training facility. Contact us in Lebanon or Westerville for more information.

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Reviews From Our Students

Kenzie Clark
Kenzie Clark
13. August, 2022.
Great experience!!
kaitlyn mcgarvey
kaitlyn mcgarvey
13. August, 2022.
Quick easy way to get a dental assistant certificate. Quick way to get into the dental field. More job opportunities opened after I received the certificate. Also received radiology license from class. Instructor is easy-going & bubbly personality.
Kaitlyn Waits
Kaitlyn Waits
13. August, 2022.
Enjoyable, quick program to get into a dental office. I'm looking forward to starting my new career
Sydnee Burgess (Syd)
Sydnee Burgess (Syd)
13. August, 2022.
It was a great experience! I was very nervous about dental and wasn’t sure how much I’d like it but through this experience I feel a lot better about going into the field. Jeanie who is the instructor is also a very warm person and truly cares for each of her students and their growth in the field.
Abby Morehouse
Abby Morehouse
11. May, 2022.
Such an amazing program! Would recommend this to anyone looking for a career in dentistry.
Lilly Collins
Lilly Collins
7. May, 2022.
Had an amazing experience as a student in the Lebanon program! The instructors Abby and Jeanne are amazing and have taught me so much from skills to job search, i will be forever grateful for their help and this experience.
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn
7. May, 2022.
Dental Assistant Pro is a wonderful program! The instructors, Jeanne and Abby, are very welcoming and do a great job at teaching their students. This program teaches you all of the basics and allows you to enter at an entry level dental assisting position at any Office. It was very convenient having classes only on the weekends and was so much fun!
Megan Sellman
Megan Sellman
7. May, 2022.
I went to Dental Assistant Pro from 7:30am-12pm, Jeanne and Abby made the program very fun and enjoyable! I learned a lot from this program and they made it easy to learn.
kiranpreet kaur
kiranpreet kaur
7. May, 2022.
I am only 18 and a Dental assistant now. I went to Dental Assistant Pro at Lebanon. It was a wonderful and thorough program. Jeane and Abby made it so easyyy to accomplish my goal. I learnt a lot in this program- X-rays, impression, diagnostic caste model and a lot of other things. Hands on training, awesome experience!!!!! Loved it 😊