Dental Practice Cleaning : A Job for Qualified Commercial Cleaners Bristol

A dental practice needs to demonstrate the highest levels of health and hygiene. There is no room for error. The cleaning of your dental surgery should always be overlooked by yourself, the manager. You should always employ a team for your dental practice cleaning who will clean in accordance with HCAI code of practice. Cleaning equipment should be colour coordinated, and there should be a checklist on display. A designated area should be used for expelling dirty water. You should have a protocol that you follow to the last letter.

Dental practices contain microorganisms. Also, items that are shared by patients can become easily contaminated with blood and other bodily fluids. High standards of cleanliness are a must, and your work area must be well organised and free from clutter. Any dirt and dust can increase the risk of transmitting infection.

Dental Practice Cleaning : Environment

The environment of your dental surgery refers to any horizontal surfaces. These include the waiting areas, store rooms, dental chairs, trolleys, tables, and chairs. The term environment also includes sinks, basins, toilets, and all surrounding areas such as soap dispensers. Anything that is touched is part of your working environment. Floors, door handles, paintwork, walls, and skirting should also be included in your cleaning regime. Curtains, light switches, and window blinds are three more areas.

dental practice cleaning

Dental Practice Cleaning : General Good Practice

All areas of your surgery should be free from grime and dust. These should include areas that are not as easy to reach such as underneath chairs and in corners. All work surfaces should be made of impervious materials that are sealed and are therefore easy to clean. Floors need to be made from a material that is non-slip. Carpets should be avoided in all areas, including your waiting room. If your flooring has joints, such as in the case of parquet flooring, any potential gaps should be sealed or welded to prevent penetration of water or microorganisms.

All your furniture should be made of a material that is impermeable and easy to wipe clean. This should include not just your dental chair but also any furniture in your waiting room. All bins should be foot operated, and made of metal. Supplies should never be left on the floor in boxes. All supplies should be stored in lockers, units, or on shelves, all of which should be water-resistant and easy to wipe clean.

Dental Practice Cleaning

All visitors to your dental practice should be advised of the hygiene procedures in place. Hands must be cleaned by using easily accessible dispensing liquids on arrival and on leaving. Your cleaning schedule should be written down, and a checklist should be made available for your Bristol commercial cleaning team. If any staff members are required to carry out any cleaning tasks, these should also be clearly written down. Your dental surgery will need to be cleaned in between visits from your professional cleaning team, at least daily, if not twice a day.

Dental Practice Cleaning : Clinical Care

To avoid cross contamination, all clean and dirty areas should be clearly identifiable. Areas that will become contaminated during operative procedures should be identified. These will include your inspection light, aspirators, work surfaces, and your chair. These should be cleaned after each procedure. Areas that need to be cleaned after each patient include inspection lamps, curing lamps, work surfaces, and x-ray units. Any other surfaces or areas that may have become contaminated also need to be cleaned between patient visits. Alcohol wipes should not be used on areas where there are blood splatters. This is becomes the alcohol will bind blood to stainless steel.

Specialist Cleaning Equipment

All specialist equipment used for cleaning needs to be fit for the purpose and in a good state. Colour coding areas to be cleaned makes it easy to keep on top of your cleaning. All cleaning equipment that is stored at your surgery needs to be kept in an area that is designated for the process to avoid cross-contamination.

Mops and buckets and general cleaning equipment also need to be stored away in an entirely separate area. Your mops should never be left in the buckets. Buckets should be inverted and mops stored head up. You should change the head on your mops regularly, far more often than in other commercial situations. Keeping your dental practice clean between professional cleaning visits is easy, as long as you use colour-coding, common sense, and a checklist for all areas of your practice, both environmental as well as clinical.

 

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