Dental Office Maintenance Checklist

When the dental office depends on its equipment to function correctly, running a successful dental practice can be demanding and challenging.

Maintaining your dental equipment is essential since unanticipated downtime brought on by issues can and will negatively impact your dental practice's profitability and ability to serve the patients.

In addition, Any dentist or dental office management needs to put staff and patient safety first.

A clean and tidy dentist's office will make patients feel safer, more welcomed, and at ease, increasing patient retention.

To ensure critical dental tasks for the patient in the office are completed on time and without error, Princess Dental Staffing has created this comprehensive checklist for maintaining your dental equipment and your dental office.

Let's get started . . .

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Start of the Day

Start of the Day:

• Turn on the master water switch in the workplace.
• Vacuum and air compressor systems should be turned on.
• Check the fluid levels in the sterilizer and X-ray processor, top them up if necessary, and then turn them on.
• Handpieces should be cleaned, lubricated, and sterilized.
• Turn on the delivery systems and open the oxygen and nitrous tanks.
• Look into using an ultrasonic cleaner.
• Turn on the nitrous oxide, oxygen cylinders, and alarm system.
• If necessary, replace the developer and/or fixer replenishment bottles and switch on the film processor.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Throughout the Day

Throughout the day:

• After each patient, sterilize and lubricate handpieces.
• Disinfect operational equipment every after use.
• Always flush the handpiece waterlines.
• Check the water level in self-contained water system bottles.
• Check the chair's functionality by ensuring there are no strange noises or air or water leaks.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: End of the Day

End of Day:

• Clean the operative HVE and saliva ejector tubings with a suction cleaner, and clean or replace the delivery unit traps if necessary.
• Flush handpiece tubings, air/water syringes, ultrasonic scalers, and air polishers with air if your delivery system has a self-contained water bottle system to prevent biofilm formation.
• Ultrasonic cleaners should be drained and wiped out.
• Delivery systems, X-rays, sterilizers, power scalers, air polishers, film processors, vacuum and air compressor systems, and the master water switch should all be turned off.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Weekly

Weekly:

• Inspect, lubricate, or replace the dental chair's and handpieces' O-rings if necessary.
• On your sterilizer, clean the door seal and the area against which it rests.
• Clean and lubricate the suction unit's filters.
• In your plant area, keep an ear out for strange noises.
• All hard surface floors should be mopped.
• All carpeted areas should be vacuumed.
• Windows and other glass surfaces should be kept clean.
• All surfaces above shoulder level, as well as the ceiling, should be cleaned.
• Disinfect trash bins.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Monthly

Monthly:

• Check or replace the master water filter element in the utility or mechanical room.
• Clean or replace the plaster trap.
• Handpieces in the lab should be cleaned and lubricated.
• Check for deterioration of rubber items on analgesia systems. If it's damaged or torn, replace it.
• Check for deterioration in the emergency oxygen unit controls and rubber items.
• Using a test kit, check for germs in the water (sink, delivery system water).
• Check the output intensity of curing lights with a light meter.
• On the sterilizer, check and pull the pressure relief valve.
• Check all lights for replacements.
• Clean all locations that patients can see.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Quarterly

Quarterly:

• Replace the seals on the sterilizer door and cassette.
• On air abrasion units, do maintenance according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• The amalgam separator cartridge should be checked and/or replaced.
• Check the vacuum system's oil and filter. Change according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• Examine the battery backup on your computer to see how long it will last (UPS).
• Smoke alarms should be tested.
• By restoring from a backup, you can double-check your computer backup.

Dental Office Maintenance Checklist: Annually

Annually:

• Replace the sterilizer door gasket as well as the cassette seals.
• Replace the compressor's oil.
• Have your fire extinguisher (or extinguishers) inspected?
• Have X-ray equipment inspected, calibrated, and certified.
• Conduct staff OSHA training.
• Go over emergency procedures with the staff, including handling patient crises, what to do in the event of a fire, etc.

Maintenance Checklist: Cleaning the Office

By observing your dental office, patients can frequently determine the services and abilities you offer.

In today's competitive business market, it's more crucial than ever to please and meet the needs of your patients.

That being said . . .

Naturally, you will want to maintain your dentist's office as sterile and secure as possible.

For a better patient experience and office appearance, use these recommended practices for cleaning and disinfection. The five most crucial cleaning duties for dentist offices can be covered with this straightforward checklist.

1. Disinfect high-touch areas on a regular basis.

• Cleaning is the first and most crucial stage in any disinfection procedure. First, clean up any visible debris and dispose of it properly. Then, using a disinfectant, clean down the entire patient treatment area.

2. Maintain a clean bathroom

• Your office's commitment to cleanliness and patient care is reflected in the status of your restroom. Make regular restroom inspections a part of your maintenance schedule, and fix any plumbing concerns right away.

3. Dust All Surfaces.

• Dusting your hard surfaces regularly is a simple and practical approach to keep your office feeling fresh while also removing harmful microorganisms from the air and environment.

4. Organize the reception area.

• Clear the clutter in your welcome area to give patients an excellent first impression when they arrive through the door. From the moment someone walks in, your waiting room should be a friendly, peaceful setting that looks clean.

5. Ensure that your disinfection procedures are compliant with industry standards.

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) precisely specify industry standards and appropriate dental facility maintenance procedures (CDC).

Chris Lewandowski

Published October 12, 2022