Dental instrument reprocessing

Dental instruments must subscribe to the most stringent of hygiene standards in order to minimize the risk of users and patients contracting infections. Process chemicals used in cleaning must not only excel in terms of the results they produce, they must also be gentle on materials. If hygiene standards are not met, instruments must be sent through the cleaning process once again, wasting the valuable time and labor of staff members. Aggressive chemical products can, on the other hand, cause corrosion on instruments, making expensive repairs necessary and, in the worst case, requiring the replacement and premature repurchase of damaged instruments. According to Sinner's Circle, the efficacy of cleaning is dependent on the key factors of mechanical action, chemistry, temperature and time. Process chemicals must therefore be balanced against the other three variables in machine-based reprocessing in a washer-disinfector in order to fully enhance the process. With its own-brand process chemicals, Miele is rounding off its comprehensive portfolio which focuses on the reprocessing of dental instruments – from machines purpose-built for dental reprocessing through to expert after-sales service.

In a washer-disinfector, loads to be reprocessed are cleaned in a wash liquor containing process chemicals. After that, any residual chemicals are neutralized by rinsing with neutralizing agent. In addition to this, ProCare Dent process chemicals serve the purpose of curtailing drying times and rinsing loads. When reprocessing standard instruments (e.g. scalers, probes, mouth mirrors, suction extractors), the conventional combination of alkaline detergent and a neutralising agent based on phosphoric acid is used. Where applicable, transmission instruments require reprocessing using a combination of mildly alkaline detergent and a neutralizing agent based on citric acid. The reason for this gentler approach is that transmission instruments, alongside stainless steel, contain other materials such as aluminum and titanium which need to be treated with detergent with a higher pH value. In each individual case, however, instructions for use issued by the manufacturer of dental instruments according to EN 17664 must take precedence.

ProCare Dent is tailored to the needs of dental instruments. Similarly, each load contains items of varying shapes and sizes and made from a range of materials and therefore the process chemicals chosen must do justice to all items in the load. The avoidance of corrosive ingredients such as chlorine ensures the gentle treatment of instruments made from multiple materials. With good rinsing properties, excellent results are achieved in combination with the efficient use of water. ProCare Dent process chemicals are provided with a recommendation on concentrations in use, which are beneficial from both an economical and an ecological viewpoint. Machines and process chemicals from Miele are carefully coordinated with a view to achieving optimum results.

In order to guarantee consistently high reprocessing standards, it is necessary to optimize the interaction between machines, processes and chemicals. When used in washer-disinfectors from Miele Professional, ProCare Dent process chemicals serve to support high-level hygiene whilst taking full account of material compatibility. Miele Service will gladly assist in the selection of the most suitable process chemicals to ensure good reprocessing results in combination with the gentlest possible treatment of instruments. This approach goes easy on both dental products and the environment.