Sterilization Is Of The Utmost Importance To Us!

In these days of concern about the spread of contagious disease, we want you to know that patient protection is top priority in our clinic. We are doing everything within our capabilities to assure the sterility and safety of our working environment. By following the guidelines, as well as continually reviewing updates on infection control materials and techniques, we are optimizing our ability to achieve this in our clinic. Our commitment is to provide you, the same standards that we expect and demand for our own families and ourselves.

We steam sterilize all of our instruments in a machine called OTOCLAVE . All instruments are sprayed, thoroughly rinsed and then hand scrubbed before entering the steam sterilizer. Inside of the sterilizer, instruments are steamed at extremely high temperatures in order to rid them of any bacteria. After being sterilized, our instruments are bagged in sterile wraps to protect them until they are used again.

All surfaces in the operatories are sprayed and rinsed with chemicals and many of the areas are barriered with plastic, which is removed and discarded after each and every patient 

Every patient uses disposable glass and the suction tips used to suck water and saliva from the mouth is also one time “use and throw”.

The digital x-ray requires placing a sensor in the mouth. The sensor is neither sterilisable nor disposable so they are placed in plastic pouches before placing in the mouth and the cover disposed after one use. Similar procedure is adopted for the intraoral camera.

What Is AUTOCLAVING

Under ordinary circumstances, heating water above the boiling point in an open vessel is impossible. Whenever the temperature rises up to 100° C, water ceases to warm any more. This is due to extensive evaporation that occurs during boiling. The process of evaporation takes all the heat, thus preventing water from further heating. If water is boiled long enough, it all turns to vaor.

However, if water is heated in a sealed vessel (such as an autoclave), it is possible to increase the boiling point . When the temperature reaches approximately 90° C, extensive evaporation takes place. Water vapor, being a gas by nature, creates excessive pressure within the vessel. As vapor pressure in the vessel reaches the value that corresponds to the temperature, evaporation ceases. Thereby, not all water turns into vapor. The higher the temperature, the higher is the pressure of the vapor. The heat generated under pressure is called latent heat and has more penetrative power to squeeze through bacteria and even their dormant, heat-resistant form — the spores.

A medical autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilise equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria , viruses , fungi , and spores are inactivated. Autoclaves work by allowing steam to enter, then maintaining pressure . This causes the steam to reach 121 ° C , and this is maintained for at least 15 minutes.