There are several rules and regulations that modern dental practices must meet to maintain the health and safety of staff and patients alike. For genuine results, it is crucial that this is not simply a tick-box exercise. Instead, practice principals and managers should empower the entire team to play their roles effectively and truly optimise the environment for all. This requires adequate training in and understanding of the guidelines, strict and well-communicated practice-wide protocols, and high-quality equipment that facilitates the highest compliance standards.
Meeting the standards
Various regulations apply to the modern dental practice when it comes to maintaining high infection control standards. In England/Wales and Scotland, respectively, HTM 01-05[i] and SHTM 01-05[ii] set the safety requirements for dental practices. Both mandate the use of key pieces of decontamination equipment such as autoclaves, with washer disinfectors also required in Scotland, which are considered best practice in England and Wales.
Both documents outline exactly what is expected of the dental team in terms of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation, as appropriate for surfaces, equipment, and reusable instruments. They also highlight the need to maintain equipment like autoclaves on a regular basis, ensuring that cycles are meeting the necessary conditions for instrument sterilisation. Regular in-house testing and cleaning are essential, as are expert evaluations and repairs by external qualified engineers. The latter is also crucial for compliance with the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), which is required as part of the annual validation process for all autoclaves.[iii] Not only are these steps integral to patient safety, but they also maximise product life and reduce the risk of costly downtime due to breakdowns.
All these regulations provide a checklist of sorts that can be referred to by practice teams to ensure that they are correctly reviewing, recording, and demonstrating their compliance.
Changing the mentality
However, this should not be relied upon alone as it must be accompanied by genuine knowledge and understanding to ensure that tasks are fulfilled effectively.
A checklist approach to anything creates vulnerabilities in a process. If the only objective is to tick the box and move on, little thought will be given to how the task is performed and why. This could pave the way for cutting corners to save time, in turn reducing the standards achieved. There is even some evidence to suggest that the complacency reached when repeating tasks regularly could increase the risk of accidents and impede safety – although further research is needed in the field to establish a causal relationship.[iv] This is particularly concerning in the dental practice when considering infection control processes – any opportunity for compromised patient safety must be taken seriously and prevented by all means necessary.
That said, checklists are still valuable in dentistry. When used as reminders for staff throughout the day, these lists are useful tools in supporting memory and providing a basic record of the protocols followed.[v] Consequently, the aim for dental teams is to change the mentality when it comes to decontamination guides and checklists. Using them as tools to support infection control processes is key.
It starts at the top
Building this culture within the dental practice requires a ‘lead by example’ philosophy. Practice owners and managers should work together to create a collective team mindset that promotes excellence in all areas of the business – from clinical patient care to decontamination. This necessitates effective and continuous communication between team members, as well as support tailored to individuals’ needs, concerns, and responsibilities. The literature firmly establishes a link between strong leadership and enhanced patient safety in dental settings, further highlighting its importance.[vi]
Simplifying processes in practice
Another aspect of effective leadership is ensuring that the entire team have the tools they need to fulfil their roles safely and efficiently. This means providing high-quality autoclaves and washer disinfectors, as well as the training and support they need to use them effectively.
Eschmann – the expert in dental decontamination – provides a range of such solutions that encompasses all your needs. For convenience, the industry-leading autoclaves can be linked to the innovative MyEschmann Hub & Cloud that automatically records essential cycle information. This makes it a breeze to demonstrate adherence to the regulations. For flexibility, The MyEschmann Hub can be connected to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or uploaded via USB for automated cycle uploads to the MyEschmann Cloud. All equipment can also be protected by the Eschmann Care & cover programme, which provides access to ongoing support and technical assistance, as well as routine testing, validation, and repairs on relevant equipment.
This support, combined with a practice culture that embraces decontamination compliance as a way of keeping patients and colleagues safe, is the key to maintaining exceptional standards across the dental practice. Implementing meticulous decontamination protocols involves more than simply ticking off a checklist – a practice team that understand this is a great one.
For more information on the highly effective and affordable range of decontamination solutions available from Eschmann, please visit www.eschmann.co.uk or call 01903 753322
Author: Nicky Varney, Head of Marketing
[i] 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 May 2026]
[ii] Cleaning of Dental Instruments Dental Clinical Guidance Second Edition Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme SDCEP. (2014). https://www.sdcep.org.uk/published-guidance/decontamination/ [Accessed May 2026]
[iii] The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000. Legislation.gov.uk. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/128/contents [Accessed may 2026]
[iv] Innes-Jones, G.. (2012). Complacency as a causal factor in accidents – Fact or fallacy?. Institution of Chemical Engineers Symposium Series. 127-132.
[v] Catchpole, Ken & Russ, Stephanie. (2015). The problem with checklists. BMJ quality & safety. 24. 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004431.
[vi] Saeed MHB, Raja UB, Khan Y, Gidman J, Niazi M. Interplay between leadership and patient safety in dentistry: a dental hospital-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open Quality. 2024;13:e002376. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002376
