From the reception area to the treatment rooms and patient chairs, a dental facility needs to be spotless. Whether you entrust your dental office cleanliness to your regular janitorial services or a commercial cleaning service, you’ll want to ensure that your dental practice looks and feels as fresh and as clean as your patients’ smiles.
A clean dental office is a safe space for both patients and staff, with good hygiene emphasizing your focus on patient care, comfort and professionalism. It also reduces patient anxiety, creating a soothing environment. The best practices for dental office cleanliness focus both on infection control and general daily cleaning tasks and tidiness.
Dental Office Cleaning Checklist
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have specific environmental protection guidelines regarding dental office cleaning and disinfecting to protect against germs and bacteria.
While the majority of these outline the disinfection and sterilization of reusable dental equipment and when to wear appropriate personal protective gear, these agencies also emphasize having policies and procedures for general environmental surfaces such as light switches to avoid cross contamination.
Cleaning removes large numbers of microorganisms, the CDC says. This is the first step in any routine dental office cleaning plan. A comprehensive cleaning that includes a high-level disinfectant should eliminate virtually all recognized pathogens.
When preparing your dental office cleaning checklist, target any hard surfaces in the treatment rooms and patient care areas likely to become contaminated. These include high-touch surfaces such as:
- Computer keyboards and touch screens
- Light handles
- Switches on patient chairs and equipment
- Drawer handles
- Bracket trays
Without proper cleaning, bacteria can transfer from one patient to another or even to the dentist and staff, the CDC says.
Surface barriers and hand protection such as gloves can minimize this risk, but it’s essential to clean and disinfect these areas too. An EPA-registered detergent followed by a disinfectant labeled for use in a health care setting is an effective and appropriate way to protect staff and patients.
A professional cleaning company has access to such supplies and also knows the manufacturer recommendations for the amount, dilution, use and disposal. However, the dentist and office administration can outline policies for which areas to clean, when and how, guaranteeing that the medical and office staff follows a precise routine.
Housekeeping Surfaces
The floors, sinks and walls of a dental office carry less risk for the chance of transmitting bloodborne pathogens, the CDC says, but it’s important to tend to these areas too. Keeping the front desk area and restrooms tidy helps patients feel welcome and conveys a professional appearance.
Be sure to have paper towels and an all-purpose cleaner available to handle everyday spills and schedule a weekly cleaning for more comprehensive cleaning tasks, such as carpet cleaning or a customized cleaning of the reception area and waiting room.
To learn more about how to keep your dental office safe and sanitary or establish a deep cleaning schedule, contact an Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services location.
