Sterilization & Patient Safety

At Advanced Dental Center, we ensure patient safety throughout the sterilization process. Our facility is equipped with innovative sterilization and disinfection systems that are the basic instruments used in surface asepsis. Sterilization involves the use of a chemical or physical process to eliminate all types of microorganisms, such as highly resistant spores.

By using Rapid Steam Autoclave at 275º F (35psi) for 15-20 minutes, we perform effective sterilization.

Before sterilizing, we prepare the instruments that will be employed in the process. The instruments are placed in 3.2% of glutaraldehyde for approximately 40 minutes, which helps in removing any debris or fluids from the patient. This step is followed by transferring the instruments to ultrasonic cleaners where they will be cleansed for approximately 15 minutes. Once this step is complete, the instruments are rinsed, dried, and placed in self sealing pouches after which they are sterilized in the autoclave.

There are instruments that cannot be sterilized using heat, and are therefore kept in 2% of glutaraldehyde for approximately 10 hours. This process is known is cold sterilization.

We employ Chemical, Biological, and Mechanical Indicators that monitor the sterilization process.

Biological monitoring, otherwise known as spore testing, involves the use of bacterial spores, also known as biologic indicators (BIs) in monitoring the sterilization process. From the three methods used in the sterilization process, biological monitoring is deemed as the most effective and valid since it uses living and highly resistant bacterial spores.