At the core of all dental care is the safety of all involved. Patient safety in particular is not only integral throughout a procedure, but it is also deeply rooted in the preceding and ongoing interactions. To meet the expectation of safety regarding instruments, sterilization protocols must be consistent and unfaltering.
While the autoclave remains a vital step in eliminating harmful bacteria, truly comprehensive infection prevention extends far beyond this singular piece of equipment. When patient safety is the factor on the line, the sterilization of instruments must be a meticulous, holistic process. Instruments must always be sterile, but to maintain the highest sterilization standards without compromising the integrity and product life of instruments, effective maintenance is also essential.
Intricate tools mean intricate challenges
Dentists have an extensive array of tools at their disposal, but dental handpieces present a particularly unique and significant challenge in reprocessing. These devices are constantly in contact with the oral environment, exposing them to substances such as saliva, blood, tissue, and microbial flora.[i] Unlike simpler instruments, handpieces are carefully engineered with complex internal structures to meet the precise demands of their use. They consist of fine water and air channels, a web of tiny lumens, and sophisticated mechanisms which collaboratively make the instruments more susceptible to contaminants.[ii]
Complicating matters further is the phenomenon of ‘suck-back’, where the use of the handpiece comes to a sudden stop, oral fluids can be pulled deep into the internal system.[iii] This makes thorough cleaning and lubrication of the internal mechanisms particularly difficult. When selecting handpieces, for the safety of your patients and team, it is prudent to choose those that are designed to limit or remove the risk of suck back with anti-retraction systems like the Hygienic Head system from W&H.
Sterilization processing
Inadequate sterilization in between patients has extensive consequences. Insufficient pre-sterilization cleaning of instruments can result in organic debris, biofilm, and microbes becoming baked onto internal surfaces due to the high-temperature of the autoclave. When this occurs, a protective layer may form to shield contaminants from the sterilizing steam, compromising the entire process, and increasing the rare, but real, risk of cross-contamination between patients. Essential equipment such as washer disinfectors ensure high standards of cleaning and decontamination prior to sterilization.
These events can also negatively impact the practice itself, with possible damage to expensive instruments or the decontamination equipment directly. Repercussions include costly repairs or replacements, patient dissatisfaction, and poor patient reviews which will harm the practice’s reputation. Beyond these are the effects that repeated instrument failure can have on team morale. Avoid disruption and added stress by investing in reliable products, eliminating the stress of working with unreliable tools. Making sure that the products you use comply with current requirements being demanded by ethical and governing bodies who are placing emphasis on strict decontamination protocols.[iv] Failure to properly sterilize and maintain equipment can result in regulatory breaches which could have legal consequences, potential fines, failed inspections and even the temporary closure of the practice.
Elongating your instruments’ lifespan
Correctly lubricated handpieces will protect your investment long term whereas insufficient lubrication can cause premature wear of the bearings. Ensuring consistently high standards of handpiece maintenance avoids the risk of instrument malfunctions and the potential of unexpected repair costs.
Automating handpiece maintenance helps ensure reliable, consistent care, protects valuable equipment for years to come, and frees up clinical time for patient-focused tasks. Allowing dental professionals to utilise their time more efficiently, focussing on patient care rather than maintenance tasks.
No longer seen as a luxury, these systems are an integral component of the decontamination workflow, optimising cleaning, and lubrication, directly adhering to the required guideline standards, and enhancing efficiency.
Demand for maintenance
In modern dental practices, the demand for safer, more effective, and more efficient instrument maintenance is growing. Protecting patients remains paramount, and preserving valuable instruments and maintaining seamless workflows are just as vital. Fortunately, the technology surrounding this field has developed synchronously, providing equipment to match all the needs of a dental practice, making it faster and easier to maintain products.
When looking for products to rationalise your processes, the W&H decontamination products offer a gold standard solution with the Assistina Twin, a handpiece maintenance device with a uniquely innovative duo-chamber system which allows continuous loading with no interruption. The technology offers consistently effective oiling, using innovative oil nebulisation technology to execute deep internal cleaning and precise lubrication in just 10 seconds. This ensures instruments are quickly and easily prepared for sterilization, extending their lifespan, and removing the risk of cross-contamination.
Enhancing sterilization protocols to include an all in one synergistic solutions from companies like W&H, is essential in today’s dental field. With increasing demands for patient safety, regulatory compliance, and overall efficiency, there is no longer the space nor time to waste on outdated, ineffective methods. By incorporating more advanced, reliable instrument maintenance, dental practices can confidently remove the risks surrounding dental contamination.
Author: Tom James – National Sales & Marketing Manager
With over 16 years in the dental industry, Tom has worked with some of the world’s leading manufacturers in a variety of sales, marketing, and leadership roles. He brings extensive expertise in leveraging the latest technology and innovations to deliver first-class service and support to the dental profession.
To find out more about the full range from W&H, visit www.wh.com/en_uk, call 01727 874990 or email office.uk@wh.com
[i] Tonello SCM, Dutra MJ, Pizzolatto G, Giacomini LA, Corralo DJ. Microbial contamination in dental equipment and disinfection potential of different antimicrobial agents. RGO, Rev Gaúch Odontol. 2022; 70:e20220016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1981-86372022001620200046
[ii] Schalli, M., Kogler, B., Miorini, T., Gehrer, M., & Reinthaler, F. F. (2023). High-Speed Dental Instruments: An Investigation of Protein-Contaminated Dental Handpieces with the Bicinchoninic Acid Assay in Dental Offices in Styria, Austria. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 1670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031670
[iii] Toomarian, L., Rikhtegaran, S., Sadighi, M., Savadi Oskoee, S., & Alizadeh Oskoee, P. (2007). Contamination of dental unit water and air outlets following use of clean head system and conventional handpieces. Journal of dental research, dental clinics, dental prospects, 1(1), 43–47. https://doi.org/10.5681/joddd.2007.007
[iv]Dental mythbuster 38: Infection prevention and control (no date) Dental mythbuster 38: Infection prevention and control – Care Quality Commission. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/dentists/dental-mythbuster-38-infection-prevention-and-control (Accessed: 27 June 2025).
