Sterilization &
Infection Control
Your safety is not an afterthought at Best Dental — it is the foundation every appointment is built on. We follow OSHA and CDC infection control guidelines with rigorous sterilization protocols, hospital-grade disinfection, and strict single-use disposable policies throughout our Richmond, TX office.
Safety You Can See and Trust
Every patient who walks into Best Dental deserves to know that the instruments touching their mouth are sterile, the surfaces around them are clean, and the team caring for them has taken every precaution modern dentistry requires. That is not marketing language — it is a clinical commitment backed by training, equipment, and daily practice.
This page walks through exactly what we do between every patient, why we do it, and what the standards we follow actually mean — so you can make an informed decision about your care with full transparency.
Autoclave Sterilization — The Gold Standard
Not all sterilization is equal. Autoclave steam sterilization is the highest level recognized by the CDC and ADA for reusable dental instruments.
What Happens to Every
Instrument Before Your Visit
After each patient, reusable instruments are collected, transported in a closed container to our sterilization area, and put through a strict multi-step process before being cleared for use with any future patient.
Instruments are never simply wiped or soaked — they undergo full autoclave sterilization, which uses pressurized steam at 270°F to destroy all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This is the same sterilization standard used in hospital operating rooms.
Each instrument pouch includes a chemical indicator strip that changes color only when the correct temperature and pressure conditions have been reached — providing visible proof of sterilization on every single pack.
Our Complete Safety Protocols
Six core areas of infection control — each one applied consistently between every patient, every day.
Instrument Sterilization
All reusable instruments go through a complete sterilization cycle before every patient — no exceptions.
- Ultrasonic cleaning removes bioburden before sterilization
- Instruments individually bagged and sealed
- Sterilization indicator strip in every pouch
- Autoclave steam sterilization at 270°F
- Pouches remain sealed until moment of use
- Autoclave performance verified with biological indicators
Surface Disinfection
Every touched surface in the treatment room is disinfected between patients using EPA-registered hospital-grade products.
- Dental chair, headrest, armrests fully wiped
- Overhead light and all handles disinfected
- Bracket tray and delivery system cleaned
- Computer inputs and touch screens wiped
- Counter surfaces and cabinets disinfected
- EPA-registered products with verified efficacy
Barrier Protection
Disposable barrier covers protect surfaces that cannot be easily disinfected — and are replaced between every patient.
- Plastic sleeve covers on light handles
- Barrier covers on chair headrest and controls
- Fresh cover on bracket tray
- Computer keyboard barrier replaced
- X-ray sensor barriers changed between patients
- All barriers removed and replaced, not reused
Personal Protective Equipment
All clinical staff follow strict PPE protocols for every patient contact — no shortcuts, no exceptions.
- Fresh gloves donned for every patient
- Gloves changed immediately if torn or contaminated
- Masks rated for aerosol-generating procedures
- Protective eyewear or face shield worn chairside
- Protective gowns or clothing worn and changed
- Hand hygiene before gloving and after degloving
Single-Use Disposables
Any item that contacts a patient and cannot be sterilized is single-use only and discarded immediately after each appointment.
- Needles and anesthetic cartridges — single use
- Gloves — single use, one pair per patient
- Masks — changed between patients
- Saliva ejectors and HVE tips — single use
- Prophy cups and angles — single use
- Air/water syringe tips — single use or sterilized
Waterline Management
Dental unit waterlines — the tubing that supplies water to handpieces and syringes — require active maintenance to prevent biofilm accumulation.
- Waterlines flushed at start of each day
- Handpieces, syringes flushed 20–30 sec between patients
- Waterline treatment products used regularly
- Water quality tested periodically per CDC guidance
- Sterile water used for surgical procedures
- Waterline maintenance logs maintained
Between Every Patient — Room Turnover
What actually happens in the treatment room after you leave and before the next patient arrives.
PPE for Cleanup
Clinical staff put on utility gloves and appropriate PPE before beginning the room turnover process. This protects the team and prevents cross-contamination during cleanup.
Sharps & Regulated Waste Disposal
Used needles are immediately recapped using a one-hand technique and placed in a sealed sharps container. Contaminated materials are disposed of in designated regulated waste containers.
Instrument Collection
Used instruments are collected in a closed, puncture-resistant container and transported to the sterilization area. Instruments are never left exposed or placed directly on countertops.
Barrier Removal
All barrier covers — chair headrest, light handles, bracket tray, keyboard, control panel — are removed and discarded. This is done before surface disinfection begins.
Surface Disinfection
All clinical contact surfaces are sprayed or wiped with EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant and allowed to remain wet for the full contact time required for the product's efficacy — typically 1–3 minutes. Surfaces are not wiped dry prematurely.
New Barriers Applied
Fresh barrier covers are placed on all surfaces that had them removed. New disposable supplies — cups, bibs, instrument setups — are restocked and placed for the incoming patient.
Sterile Instruments Opened at Chairside
Sterilized instrument pouches are opened at the chairside in front of the patient — never pre-opened in advance. The sterilization indicator is visible on the pouch, confirming the contents are sterile.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment serves two purposes: protecting clinical staff from exposure to pathogens and protecting patients from cross-contamination between appointments. At Best Dental, PPE is not optional or situational — it is standard for every patient, every procedure.
What Our Clinical Team Wears for Every Patient
- Gloves — Fresh pair donned immediately before patient care; changed any time gloves are torn, punctured, or contaminated; never worn outside the treatment room
- Surgical mask — Worn throughout patient contact; changed between patients or any time it becomes moist or contaminated; higher-filtration masks used during aerosol-generating procedures
- Protective eyewear — Safety glasses, goggles, or face shield worn during any procedure that may produce splatter or aerosols
- Protective clothing — Clinic attire or gowns worn in the treatment area; changed when visibly soiled or between patients after contaminated procedures
- Hand hygiene — Hands washed or sanitized before gloving and immediately after removing gloves; alcohol-based hand rub used when hands are not visibly soiled
🩺 Why You'll Always See Us Open Instrument Pouches in Front of You
We open sterile instrument pouches at your chairside — never pre-set instruments on an open tray before you arrive. This gives you visible confirmation that the instruments being used on you were sealed and sterile going into your appointment. It's a small thing that makes a meaningful difference in transparency and trust.
Regulatory Compliance & Standards
Best Dental's infection control program is built on the standards published by the two primary regulatory bodies governing dental infection control in the United States. These are not optional guidelines — they represent the minimum standard of safe practice, and we exceed them wherever possible.
CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings
The CDC's dental infection control guidelines cover standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE selection and use, respiratory hygiene, sterilization and disinfection of patient-care items, environmental infection control, dental handpiece sterilization, single-use device policies, and dental unit waterline management. Our protocols are reviewed against these guidelines regularly and updated whenever guidelines are revised.
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) governs how healthcare settings protect workers and patients from exposure to blood-borne pathogens including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Compliance includes written exposure control plans, use of safer needle devices, proper sharps disposal, regulated waste handling, and ongoing staff training. All Best Dental clinical staff receive initial and annual bloodborne pathogen training.
Texas State Board of Dental Examiners
In addition to federal standards, Best Dental complies with infection control rules established by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), which governs dental practice in Texas and conducts periodic inspections of dental offices statewide.
What This Means for You as a Patient
- Every instrument is sterile before it contacts your mouth — verified by sterilization indicators on every pouch
- Every surface was disinfected after the previous patient using EPA-registered products with proven pathogen kill claims
- Every barrier was replaced on every covered surface before you entered the room
- Every disposable item — needle, gloves, mask, saliva ejector — is used once and discarded
- Our team is trained in infection control and bloodborne pathogen safety on an ongoing basis
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Safety Commitment — At a Glance
Schedule with Confidence at Best Dental
Your safety is built into every appointment at Best Dental in Richmond, TX. Dr. Jasmine and Dr. Sonny Naderi have maintained rigorous infection control standards for over 35 combined years of practice. 22377 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 400, Richmond, TX 77407.
