Protecting yourself, your team, and your patients from biohazards and other contaminants is one of the top priorities in your practice.
You take steps like wearing high-quality dental face masks and using the right types of dental gloves, but there are so many other ways you can maintain a clean, hygienic, and sterile environment.
One of the most common questions we get asked on this subject at My DDS Supply is - do dental instrument trays need to be sprayed? This detailed guide on how to clean dental trays will address this and many other uncertainties you may have.
Your trays keep you organized and efficient, but they can also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and other concerns. That’s why your best bet is to use our durable dental instrument trays in an autoclave for effortless cleaning and sterilization. Learn more below!
The Role of Dental Instrument Trays
These trays streamline procedures and enhance the efficiency of your practice by organizing instruments in a methodical way that keeps everything you need at arm's reach during procedures. They not only save time but also reduce the risk of procedural errors.
There is no denying the role these play in boosting productivity in your day-to-day operations. However, with all their use comes the potential for contamination. These trays can become hotbeds for microbial growth due to frequent exposure to biological materials.
If not properly managed they can cause cross-contamination between patients and dental staff. So, do dental instrument trays need to be sprayed?
Do Dental Instrument Trays Need to Be Sprayed?
One of the easiest ways to maintain the sterility of your trays is with an EPA-approved disinfectant designed specifically for dental practices. Spraying these on your trays between patients is a recommended practice to prevent cross-contamination and ensure patient safety.
It's essential to use a spray that effectively eliminates bacteria, viruses, and fungi, ensuring that it meets the specific health and safety standards required in dental care environments.
We’ll help you choose the right one below along with other tips on how to clean dental trays effectively so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re protecting your patients.
How to Clean Dental Trays Effectively to Keep Your Practice Safe and Sterile
Just as we explained in our similar guide on how to sterilize dental burs, the right process protects individuals from cross-contamination while protecting your instruments and equipment from degradation associated with harsh cleaning methods.
There’s also a balance between cleaning well and cleaning efficiently so you can stay on schedule and make sure you see all your patients in a timely manner. So, here’s an overview of how to clean and sterilize dental trays in a manner that checks all boxes.
Pre-Cleaning Protocols
As with anything you do in your practice, start by pulling on your dental gloves to prevent exposure to contaminants. We have both powder-free latex gloves and dental nitrile gloves here at My DDS Supply.
Rinse the trays with cool water immediately after use to prevent the hardening of debris. Use a soft brush or a cloth to gently scrub away any visible residues. This reduces the microbial load and prepares the trays for more detailed cleaning and disinfection processes.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Agents
We briefly touched on this earlier, but the right cleaning agents can make a world of difference in the results you see - but also in the longevity of your trays. You don’t want something so harsh that it deteriorates your trays and causes premature replacement.
We recommend a non-corrosive, neutral pH detergent specially formulated for medical instruments. These solutions tackle the common residues found in a dental setting without damaging the metal or plastic components of the trays.
Always take the time to make sure the cleaning agents are compatible with the materials of your trays and are effective against a wide range of pathogens.
Detailed Cleaning Techniques
Submerge trays in a solution of the chosen detergent. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for dilution and immersion time.
Use ultrasonic cleaners if available, as they enhance the cleaning process by generating high-frequency sound waves that agitate and lift debris from intricate parts of the trays.
After the trays have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with distilled water to remove any residual detergent, as this could interfere with the sterilization process that comes next.
Disinfection and Sterilization Procedures
There’s a difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing. All are essential, but sterilization is what actually eliminates the harmful pathogens from the tray altogether. Disinfecting reduces the number of viable microorganisms.
So, you can spray a disinfectant on the trays and allow them to air dry or you can take things a step further and use an autoclave - which is our preferred approach for complete eradication of harmful compounds.
Ensure that the trays are completely dry before placing them in an autoclave to avoid the risk of steam burns and to ensure effective sterilization. Follow the autoclave manufacturer’s guidelines regarding temperature, pressure, and time.
Post-Cleaning Care and Storage
Most of the hard work is done now, but you still need to take care to prevent exposure to contaminants after the fact. That means use sterile gloves when pulling the trays from the autoclave.
It’s also worth taking a few moments to look for any signs of damage or wear, as compromised surfaces can harbor bacteria and pose a risk of infection.
Store the sterilized trays in a clean, dry environment to prevent recontamination. Use sealed containers or covered storage solutions designed for sterilized instruments. Follow these tips and you won’t have to stress about cleanliness or sterilization any longer!
Simplify Your Operations With Our Autoclave-Safe Dental Instrument Trays!
Even with the proper sterilization procedure it’s worth investing in trays that streamline things - like our exclusive selection here at My DDS Supply!
Our trays are auto-clave safe and capable of withstanding the intense environment in these machines cycle after cycle for a long-lasting investment in your practice.
Each measures 13 1/4" x 9 3/4" (Ritter Size B), offering ample space to organize and sterilize a variety of dental instruments efficiently. The intelligent flat design features raised edges that keeps instruments in place, minimizing movement and potential spillage during sterilization.
Simply load up your instruments into our self sealing sterilization pouches, put them back on the tray, and put them in the autoclave - it’s really that easy.
Designed for convenience, these trays facilitate quick setup and access to instruments, boosting procedural efficiency and helping maintain a tidy workspace.
You may be wondering…what’s the catch? How much do dental trays cost at My DDS Supply? This is where affordability and quality align, offering the best of both worlds. Our trays are competitively priced at less than $10 each, or stock up for even better value.
You can also trust My DDS Supply for all the different dental sterilization pouches sizes, dental bibs, dental syringes, temporary tooth cement, dental face masks, dental gauze, teeth putty, dental alginate, and everything else your practice needs.
So, change the way you source dental supplies and equipment for the better with our help today. See for yourself what has earned us the trust of thousands of dental professionals!