Dentaltown June 2015 - (Page 30)

practice management feature Routine Equipment Maintenance and Checklist Whether you use equipment daily, weekly or monthly, everything needs upkeep. The following list, which was supplied by American Dental Accessories and ran on a Dentaltown message board, will help you know what to do to keep that equipment in top shape. The list is not all-inclusive, but it should cover most of what the average dental practice is using. Daily Weekly At the beginning of the day: * Turn on compressor, vacuum and main water lines (you should have a solenoid on your water). * Check ﬂuid levels in sterilizer and X-ray processor, topping off if necessary, and then turn them on. * Run a cleaning sheet through your processor (if such is available for it). * Turn on delivery systems and open oxygen and nitrous tanks (if you have a central system). * Check ultrasonic cleaner solution. * If using self-contained water systems and air purging every night, run handpieces and depress water buttons on air/ water syringes to establish water-line pressure. * Reﬁll water bottles of self-contained systems. * Verify previous day's computer backup and install next generation of media (i.e., the next drive/cartridge etc., in sequence). * At the end of the day: * Clean the sterilizer door gasket with a soft cloth and mild (non-antibacterial) liquid soap. * Clean out or change chairside vacuum traps and run vacuum system cleaner through all vacuum lines. Be certain to securely replace the lid of the trap after checking screen on trap. * Empty waste bottle/tank on sterilizers equipped with one. * Turn off all equipment as above-delivery systems, oxygen and nitrous tanks, sterilizer, processor, compressor, vacuum and main water line. If using a Dent-X processor, remove the cover and slide the covers of the solution trays to the side, allowing vapors to escape. * Dry water lines by purging with air (if using self-contained water systems). * 30 JUNE 2015 // dentaltown.com * * * * * * * * * * * Clean interior and exterior of sterilizer(s), including reservoir. Check autoclave safety valve by pulling on the ring with pliers (it should spring back). Check sterilizer filters and perform a spore test. Verify sterilizer is level. Check chairside trap screens and lid O-rings for wear, and replace if necessary. Be certain to securely replace the lid of the trap afterward. Check and replace or clean out central vacuum and main water-line filters. If present, check amalgam separator. Disassemble and lubricate vacuum valves (HVE and SE). Clean ultrasonic cleaner. Clean operating light reﬂectors and lens shields (make sure reflectors are cool first). Check oil on oil-lubricated compressors and drain compressor tank. An auto-drain can also be installed on your compressor to drain as needed, automatically. Clean processor racks according to manufacturer's instructions. You may need to let them dry over the weekend as well. Empty and clean out bottles of self-contained water systems. Clean boiling chamber of water distiller. http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown June 2015

On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: Dentists: Let's Band Together to Improve Public Health
Professional Courtesy: The Appointment is Broken and You Can't Fix It
Continuing Education Update
Poll
Forensic Odontology: Solving Crimes One Tooth at a Time
Routine Equipment Maintenance and Checklist
Minimally Invasive Approach: Implant Prosthetics and Aesthetics of a Lateral Incisor
Electric Toothbrushes: The Benefits of Tech
OFFICE VISIT: The Ninja Dentist Reveals Her Training Ground
The Best 401(k) Plan: Pooled or Participant-Directed?
The State of Little Teeth: Answers About the ACA and Access to Care for Children
How to Successfully Administer Insurance in Your Practice
Continuing Education: Slow-Growing Nodule of the Hard Palat: Differential Diagnosis and Management
Corporate Profile: DentalMarketing.net: Maximizing the ROI of Your Practice
Products in Practice: Ivoclar Vivadent
Disney for Dentists: How Walt’s Principles Can Improve Your Cash Flow
Burnout: The Dental Pain No One Mentions
New Products
Ad Index
Improve Care, Increase Revenue: The Case for Midlevel Providers
How to Calculate Maximum Dosages of Lidocaine and Articaine Anesthetic
Not Your Everyday Oral Pathology Lesion
Overcoming the Entrepreneurial Conundrum
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown June 2015