Streamlining Sterilization in the Dental Practice

SciCan’s infection control solutions help practices operate more efficiently when it comes to washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing instruments

Anytime you see a problem, it’s an opportunity to change for the better. For Dr. Todd Snyder, that is certainly the case when it comes to operating a dental practice. “If you can recognize a problem, that’s truly a gift. So, when I see a problem, I have a positive mindset and say, ‘We’re going to change it.’”

Dr. Snyder, who has runs a successful practice in Laguna Niguel, CA, and an online dental education program at legion.dentist, holds that a lot of dentists can benefit from taking a similar position, because they may be wasting time and resources in their daily routines. And a great place to start is in the sterilization room—where he believes many practices fail to take advantage of the available technology.

todd snyder

“I’d rather use that money on solutions that can actually reduce your overhead and bring a huge amount of efficiency to the workflow.”

- Todd Snyder, DDS, FAACD, FIADFE, ASDA, ABAD

“A lot of offices have a sterilization tech or a rover who goes in and handles sterilization, and some practices just have a dedicated person. There’s a lot of time wasted. How much time is someone in there scrubbing an instrument to clean it or scrubbing burs? You’re trying to save what may be a $4 bur, but you’re paying for a $20-per-hour employee. That makes zero sense,” Dr. Snyder said during a recent Dental Talk podcast with Dr. Phil Klein.

scican hydrim

Easy & Effective Technology

Sometimes, it’s better to invest in the right products that can do the same work, yielding a more consistent result without taking up employees’ time or risking human error or injury. In his own practice, Dr. Snyder has found the answer in the automated cleaning and sterilization systems offered by SciCan.

One example is the HYDRIM instrument washer, which can accommodate 10 full-size cassettes and allows offices to turn over 2,500 thoroughly cleaned instruments in a 10-hour day. The washer is easy to use and provides consistent cleaning because each cycle cleans the same and uses the correct doses of cleaning solutions.

Importantly, use of such a system cuts down significantly on the handling of instruments and tips that can be as sharp as, or sharper than, household knives—explorers, periodontal probes, curettes, and other scaling instruments. A manual cleaning process places dental personnel at risk for injury while handling these instruments, especially during scrubbing. The safest method of instrument cleaning is an instrument washer.

Dr. Snyder describes HYDRIM as a system that has enabled dental practices to streamline operations. “It’s awesome,” he said. “And you’re no longer having to worry about an employee cutting themself or filing a complaint that they got cut or they can’t work. You’re no longer wasting time to clean these things.”

scican statmatic

Simplifying Maintenance

When it comes to handpiece maintenance, Dr. Snyder believes many practices may again be wasting precious resources. “You have someone trying to spray lubrication in the handpiece and do it right so that your $1,200 electric handpiece continues working for many years,” he said. “Well, maybe if they get it wrong, you’re now out a handpiece.”

Once again, a problem—and a solution—have been identified, in the form of the STATMATIC. The automatic handpiece maintenance unit simplifies the maintenance process by properly cleaning, lubricating, and purging handpieces prior to sterilization. Up to 3 handpieces can be accommodated in under a minute. The STATMATIC also incorporates a unique chuck cleaner to dislodge debris inside the chuck.

“It does the job better than an employee or person is typically going to do it,” Dr. Snyder said. “The technology makes sure it uses the right amount of material and cleans properly, so you have a properly lubricated and treated handpiece, and it’s faster and easier than having an employee do it.”

Speedy Solutions & Reduced Overhead

The culmination of Dr. Snyder’s streamlined sterilization center is the STATCLAVE G4, a chamber autoclave that incorporates pre-sterilization vacuum to improve steam penetration and post-sterilization vacuum to improve drying. Its 11” chamber and vacuum-assisted closed-door drying efficiently deliver sterilized and dried wrapped instruments. STATCLAVE can sterilize and dry wrapped instrument loads in as little as 38 minutes.

smart technology

“It’s crazy fast,” said Dr. Snyder. “You’ve got better efficiency and better speed, so you get everything back more quickly.” With modern sterilization technology, the process of cleaning, maintaining, and sterilizing instruments and equipment no longer needs to drain practices of manpower while running the risk of inefficiency, inadequacy, or injury.

“When we get done with a procedure, my hygienist, my assistant, or whomever will pick up what we’ve used, walk over and drop it in the machine, turn it on, and walk away,” Dr. Snyder told Dental Product Shopper. “Time is money, and I’d rather use that money on solutions that can actually reduce overhead and bring a huge amount of efficiency to the workflow.”

Instrument Washer