Infection Control System at GumDocs

Dr. John O’Keefe visited GumDocs in Ottawa to check out their infection system process. He spoke with Ms. Sherry Beckstead, the office’s Infection Control Coordinator. 

Highlights

The clinic was recently expanded and as such, their sterilization centre was revamped to serve their growing needs.

The new Steri-Center promotes increased efficiency and allows team members to track instruments etc that the doctors and team members require. The instruments from each surgery are brought to sterilization. Small pieces such as failed implants, abutments, opened but unused implants, are placed in the color matched lab basket of the Doctor with which the surgery was performed. The instruments are then placed in the ultrasonic or washer to be cleaned. Once the instruments and all parts are cleaned they are either bagged or wrapped to be sterilized. To maximize the counter space the Statims were placed on top of the washers and the Autoclaves were placed in between the washers.

Once sterilized, the clean instruments are placed on carts and dispersed to two clean sterilization areas on either side of the clinic which are closer to the respective doctors’ or hygienists’ operatories. In this way, the dental assistants can easily take their baskets and instruments to set up for their upcoming surgeries the next day.