Author – Nicky Varney: Head of Marketing Eschmann Technologies Ltd.
It is critical for all dental practices to optimise both the clinical and safety standards achieved every single day. When it comes to the latter, investing in high-quality equipment will not only elevate the safety of patients and staff alike, but it will also add value to the services you can provide and enhance the professional workflow. Adopting this equipment is a solid investment in your business that will stand the test of time, if you look after it.
Safety best practice
Washer disinfectors are mandatory for all dental practices in Scotland according to SHTM 01-05[i] and recommended as part of best practice guidelines by HTM 01-05[ii] in England and Wales. This is because they deliver enhanced safety protocols that optimise the cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable instruments.
Firstly, the washer disinfector is superior to hand washing because it offers an automated and validated process. With manual cleaning, there are a myriad of variables affecting the quality of each clean, including the type and amount of cleaning solution used, the water temperature, the time spent washing, and the diligence shown by the member of staff performing the task.
A washer disinfector, however, achieves the exact conditions needed for the removal of debris and organic matter every single time – and this can be checked and proven by the equipment. It uses thermal disinfection to increase reproducibility and delivers unbiased reports for reliable records. Ultimately, this leads to higher quality decontamination prior to sterilisation, ensuring that instruments are correctly prepared for the next stage of reprocessing.
In addition, the use of a washer disinfector reduces the time staff must spend manually cleaning the instruments, which also lowers the risk of personal injury. Hands-free instrument trays are also available for leading models, which further minimise the chance of needle stick or other percutaneous injury for professionals as they load and unload the machine.
Efficiency and productivity
Not only are staff safer, but they also gain time to focus on other aspects of the practice. The minutes spent manually washing instruments soon add up throughout the day – removing this task from their responsibilities allows them to spend more time with patients or setting up the surgery for the next appointment. There is no risk of rushing or skipping steps if a member of the team is particular busy, as they can simply set up the washer disinfector and get on with something else. Leading models can also accommodate up to 360 instruments per cycle – which would take quite some time for a dental nurse or decontamination lead to get through if washing manually! The same solutions offer heavy duty cleaning, disinfection and drying in under an hour for even further efficiency, optimising the value added to your business.
The result is enhanced workflow efficiency, which is nothing but good news for the team, the patient and the practice.
Protecting the investment
Having established the benefit of a washer disinfector in the dental practice, it is important to maintain the equipment and protect your investment. There will be various tests and checks that can be completed in-house. Leading equipment providers will show you how to perform these safely and effectively during the post-installation team training.
It is then vital to ensure that the equipment is serviced by an experienced engineer, who’s specifically trained on the washer disinfector, each year. They will be able to evaluate the machine’s mechanical and technical processes, making any changes and repairs as necessary. Not only will this prolong the operational life and long-term value of the washer disinfector, but it will also minimise the risk of any malfunctions or breakdowns and the inconvenience these can cause to the team, patients and the business.
When you invest in industry-leading solutions like the washer disinfectors from Eschmann, you get access to all of the above and more. The Eschmann Care & Cover package provides servicing and maintenance by specifically trained engineers who are available across the UK. This also includes validation, unlimited breakdown cover, unlimited Eschmann parts and labour, and Enhanced CPD user training.
Ultimately, integrating a washer disinfector into your dental practice will do more than simply improve your safety standards. It will also streamline the professional workflow and add value to your everyday activities by freeing up staff time. With the right equipment and ongoing maintenance, you can reap the rewards for many years to come.
For more information on the highly effective and affordable range of infection control products from Eschmann, please visit www.eschmann.co.uk or call 01903 753322
[i] Cleaning of Dental Instruments Dental Clinical Guidance Second Edition Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme SDCEP. (2014). [Accessed January 2025]
[ii] Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices. Department of Health. 2023. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM_01-05_2013.pdf [Accessed January 2025]
