Preventing infection with sterilizers

One of the key components of any dental practice is an infection control plan. If you’re not sure your environment, your instruments and your employees (and yourself!) are providing clean and sterile services for your patients, you’re leaving yourself open to harming anyone who sits in your chair, and to the accompanying liability. It’s extremely important for every dentist to make sure his or her practice and staff are prepared and equipped to work within a robust infection control plan.

An important component to any infection control efforts should be a sterilizer for dental tools and instruments. Whether it’s called an autoclave or a sterilizer, it’s vital for any practice to make sure everything going into patients’ mouths is germ-free and completely sterile. Assistants, hygienists and clinicians all need to be sure the tools they’re using in the operatory will never make anyone sick.

With that in mind, we’re proud to bring you this roundup of some of the leading dental sterilizers out there. This snapshot of the sterilizer marketplace is intended to help you keep patients safe, and we’re sure you’ll be able to find an option that’s a perfect fit for your practice. You’ll find information about each option, as well as contact information that you can use to find out more about each solution listed.

Whether you’re a dentist, hygienist, assistant or something in-between, we hope this brief look at these important options will help you with your infection control plan, and will go toward keeping all patients and staff safe!

COX Rapid Heat Sterilizer

The COX Rapid Heat Sterilizer provides FDA-cleared sterilization of wrapped instruments in 12 minutes. Drying cycles are eliminated in HVHA systems and with the absence of water, steam and chemicals there is no corrosion, pitting or dulling of instruments. The COX Rapid Heat Sterilizer reportedly was proven by an independent third party to average 84 percent less energy per sterilization cycle than competitive steam sterilizers, and can sterilize in double-decker cassettes more than 200 instruments per hour. The fast turnaround of the COX Rapid Heat Sterilizer is designed to eliminate the temptation of medical staff to bypass or shorten cycles that can jeopardize instrument sterility when instruments are still wet. 

CPAC

800-828-6011 x1372   |  cpacequipment.com

DDS7000 sterilizer

The DDS7000 is the latest model in the series of rapid dry heat sterilizers from Dentronix. Specifically designed for the processing of orthodontic pliers, the convective heating action sterilizes a full load of 36 pliers in 37 minutes at 191°C. At the completion of each cycle, pliers are at a safe temperature for immediate handling. The DDS7000 reportedly provides a moisture-free inert process that keeps sharp edges sharp and prevents rust in hinged joints. Various loading options are available, from upright racks to horizontal trays to allow processing of many types of instruments. Combined with its ultrasonic cleaning systems and non-ionic cleaning solution, the DDS7000 is engineered to be part of an effective an efficient instrument processing system. Dentronix sterilizers are manufactured and serviced in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Dentronix

800-523-5944  |  dentronix.com

M11 UltraClave^® Automatic Sterilizer

The Midmark M11 UltraClave^® Automatic Sterilizer is designed to be the most reliable and easiest to use autoclave on the market. Preprogrammed cycles can improve convenience, flexibility and increase confidence for every cycle. The sterilizer offers a patented automatic door that opens at the end of the cycle to promote faster, more efficient drying of instruments.  

Midmark

800-MIDMARK  |  midmark.com

BRAVO sterilizers

The BRAVO is a fractionated vacuum sterilizer that incorporates both pre-vac (to remove air) and post-vac (to ensure a dry load every time) cycles to ensure the perfect steam penetration for any load.The BRAVO reportedly offers the perfect blend of speed and capacity with total cycle times, including drying, set at about half the time as other conventional chamber autoclaves. The BRAVO 17V, with a 17-liter chamber, has a large vacuum pump and employs a fast and consistent dry load in only 34 minutes. The BRAVO 17V comes standard with five sterilization trays, increasing load capacity and office efficiency. The other BRAVO model, the BRAVO 21V, features a 21-liter chamber and a top filling port as well as a front mounted master drain port, and an integrated USB port for data logging. 

SciCan

800-572-1211  |  scicanusa.com

Henry Schein Dry Heat Sterilizers

Dry Heat Sterilizers from Henry Schein include a “Heat and hold” capability for continuous use, rapid heating for fast operation, an automatic timer and are engineered to not dull sharp instruments. The sterilizers are all stainless steel, and provide a 60 minutes sterilization set at 320°F or 160°C. The sterilizers reportedly have a maintenance-free chamber sealing door, burnout-proof heating elements, even heating, a precision thermostat and more. Plus, the sterilizers are designed to provide a low operating cost, and the convenience of a system where trays can be sterilized with lids on.

Henry Schein

800-DSCHEIN  |  henryschein.com

EZ11Plus & EZ9Plus Autoclave

Tuttnauer’s focus on sterilization and infection control reportedly enables them to offer products to help practitioners meet today’s challenging workloads and regulatory requirements. The EZPlus is available in two sizes: an 11” chamber and 19.8” deep, with five extra-large trays for pouches and packs; and a 9” chamber and 19.8” deep, with three extra-large trays for pouches and packs. The EZPlus is designed to meet the most current sterilization standards ANSI/AAMI ST55 and a newly designed EZGlide door, a bright EZView multi-color display for easy reading and real time cycle Information, and EZFill front or top water filling options. The closed-door HEPA filtered air-drying system is designed to maintain sterility and ensure efficient drying of packs and pouches, and the EZPlus features four FDA cleared sterilization programs. 

Tuttnauer USA

888-624-5836  |  info@tuttnauerusa.com, tuttnauerusa.com