Sterilization is a critical element in the prevention of infections. In ancient times, Hippocrates – the father of medicine – believed in the importance of cleaning a wound via boiling water for disinfection. A Greek doctor named Galen boiled his surgical instruments before use on the wounded Roman soldiers he was tasked to take care of. But it was when Louis Pasteur confirmed that microbes were eliminated by the heat that high-temperature sterilization became one of the standards for best medical practice. So it is no surprise that an autoclave is one of the most vital equipment for both medical and dental safety.
A dental clinic has a lot of tools and machinery, all of which are necessary to address your tooth, mouth, and gum needs immediately and efficiently. Aside from the ever-familiar chair and other furniture, a dentist uses other equipment and small-scale instruments throughout the patient’s session. Probes, dental examination mirrors, turbines, pliers, dental lamps for light curing, and forceps are just some of the must-haves of your dentist. An autoclave ensures that your dental tools are steamed and sterilized, so you avoid reinfection from one patient to another. But how do you choose the right autoclave for your clinic?
Choose the autoclave features you need.
Your daily workload is the main factor in choosing an autoclave for your dental practice. If you have a lot of clients, a small one may not be enough for your sterilizing needs. You should not overload your sterilizer because a cramped space will poorly clean your tools. There should be enough room to place your implements in an apt position.
Also, your equipment comes in all shapes and sizes. When choosing an autoclave, make sure that all of your tools – big and small – fits in it. It is best to determine the exact capacity per sterilizing cycle so that you know if it will suit your needs.
It should be easy to operate.
Both you and your staff should be able to operate the autoclave without a hitch. You can adjust the cleaning and sterilizing time for a set of tools while you use a different pair of probes or dental mirror on a patient. You should get one that completely dries and sterilizes your equipment hassle-free with no need for constant monitoring. One that is easy to use will be a blessing once your clients steadily come through the door.
Your autoclave supplier should be easy to contact in case of any emergency.
No matter how careful you and your staff are, malfunctions can happen at any time. It is wise to have the contact number or email of your autoclave supplier for any mishaps during and after clinic hours.
Look for a space-saving autoclave.
An autoclave is not your only machinery in the clinic. You have the dental patient chairs, cabinets, X-ray machine, dental lasers, and other equipment that occupies a lot of space in a small room. While autoclaves are not portable, not all of them are humongous in size. Look for one that is a space-saver while being functional at the same time.
An imperfectly sterilized dental tool can be just the excuse for microbe transfer to the next patient. Avoid HIV, hepatitis, or tuberculosis transference by having the autoclave that is just right for your clinic.
About The Author – Ester Adams is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
