Dental handpieces are some of the most heavily relied upon instruments in any practice and, in order for them to perform flawlessly use after use, they need to be carefully cleaned and maintained. Whilst the handpiece should be sterilised after each use, a build-up of biomatter will still affect performance and pose health risks to your patients.
The cleaning and sterilisation of your handpiece is a crucial part of your dental practice that must be carried out efficiently and consistently, but with all of the intricate parts and the complex structure of dental handpieces – it can make the task a bit more difficult. In this blog, we’re going to guide you through a step-by-step process on how to properly clean your dental handpieces to ensure the long-lasting safety of both your equipment and your patients.
Which method is recommended for cleaning your handpieces?
Cleaning and sterilising your handpieces is not a one-job task, and it all starts with preparation. If you skip straight ahead to sterilisation, issues can arise if no internal cleaning has been performed. This is because elements such as blood can become stuck in the handpiece during sterilisation and clog up the internal mechanisms, so you must ensure it’s completely clean before you start the sterilisation process. Let’s get into how to prepare and clean the exterior and interior of your handpiece before getting it ready for sterilisation.
Cleaning the exterior of your handpiece
The first thing you should do before anything is prepare the handpieces for cleaning. Start by removing the rotary instruments from the tubes and the burs from the chucks and place them into a clean tub, these instruments should be sealed in a durable, leak-proof container, and be sure to never submerge the handpiece in any type of solution or liquids.
You will then need to rinse the handpiece in water for at least 20 seconds immediately after use (this should not be in a hand-wash sink). Clean the handpiece with cold, running water and a non-metallic brush. Then wipe down the handpiece with a lint-free, disinfectant wipe and avoid using sprays as this can cause splashback. Any residue should be rinsed off again with cold water and wiped with a dry paper towel. Once you’ve completed these steps your handpiece will then be ready for lubrication.
Lubricate your dental handpiece
Lubricating your handpiece is essential after cleaning and before sterilisation. Inadequate lubrication can lead to your handpieces breaking down, as the lubrication will protect your handpiece during the sterilisation process. You can lubricate your handpieces either manually by using a dedicated nozzle and high-quality oil, or you can do it automatically with a machine.
We recommend using an automatic machine for this as it will take out the guesswork of manual lubrication by dispensing the right amount of solution needed and can lubricate up to 4 handpieces at a time, making it a much more efficient method. Dedicated cleaning and lubrication units have been designed to effectively remove dirt and debris from the inner workings of the handpiece. They will ensure that your handpieces are getting the proper care they need and this will also help to increase their longevity and save you money down the line on repairs and replacements.
Once you’re done lubricating your handpiece make sure to do a visual inspection and once you’re certain they have been properly cleaned then they will be ready for the next step – which is sterilisation.
What is the appropriate sterilisation method for burs and handpieces?
When it comes to the proper sterilisation of a handpiece, an autoclave is required. An autoclave is a steam chamber where you can lay your handpiece. It will heat up to around 135 degrees Celsius, which will completely sterilise everything in the chamber. A vacuum B-class cycle is essential to fully sterilise hollow instruments including the handpieces step.
Most Autoclaves also have a dry cycle and you must ensure that they are completely dry before use. Failing to complete the dry cycle or bagging the instruments whilst still hot or wet will cause damage and breakage to your handpiece which will cause corrosion and significantly decrease their longevity.
Keeping them stored properly before use
The last thing you want is for your handpieces to become contaminated or broken while they’re waiting to be used, especially after you spent all of that time and care to properly sterilise them. To avoid any damage, make sure you store your dental handpieces facing upright with the bur at the top. Place them away from any dusty or dirty areas and ensure they are fully dry before storing otherwise the lubricants may pool and this will cause damage to the instruments.
When cleaning isn’t enough, it’s time for a service
Even with thorough regular cleaning, the handpiece will require servicing on an annual basis. With a full service by a certified repair engineer, the handpiece is fully dismantled and each component deep cleaned. We understand it can be hard to know how to properly care for your handpieces to ensure their long lifespan, so we have created a blog around the maintenance of your dental handpieces for when you need something more than just a simple cleaning job.
However, if you need more support and advice, here at Trigiene we have a dedicated team of experts ready to help you and answer your questions. You can book an immediate repair for the more pressing matters or get in touch with us on our contact us page for support and enquiries.
