Many People ask questions about sterilization procedures in the dental office. With the number of contagious diseases in the news today, that is an understandable worry. Be assured that at Royal York Dental your health and safety is always our primary concern. The guidelines we use for sterilization and infection control are called Universal Precautions and we implement them for every one of our patients.

What do we do to protect you against infection? Consider the following...

1. Triangle Sterilization Center
At Royal York Dental we have invested in the best by equipping each of our floors with a Triangle Sterilization Center. We want the very best for our patients and we believe sterilization and infection control are a very important part of the work we do.

2. Autoclave (Steam Sterilization)
All instruments are sterilized in a steam autoclave. This process provides a very high level of sterilization. All hand instruments, hand pieces (drills) and burs (drill bits) are autoclaved after each use.

3. Chemical Disinfection
All items that cannot tolerate high heat, such as plastics, are sterilized in a chemical solution formulated to destroy both viruses and bacteria.

4. Disposables
Many items in our office are designed for one-time use and are disposed of after usage. These items include saliva ejectors, suction tips, rubber cups, drinking cups, patient bibs, anesthetic capsules and needles. Sharp items such as needles are disposed of through proper Waste Management Services.

5. Surface Decontamination
All surfaces including counter tops, dental chairs, light handles and cuspidor (chair side sinks) controls are disinfected with a chemical solution. This solution is designed to eliminate potentially infectious bacteria, spores and viruses. Where appropriate barriers (paper or plastic) are used then disposed of.

6. Disposable Gloves and Masks
Gloves and masks are worn to minimize any potential for cross-contamination (transmission of infectious disease). This protects both us and our patients. Each pair of gloves are used for one patient and are always changed between patients. All of our gloves, at Royal York Dental, are latex-free to minimize the potential for allergic reactions (some people are allergic to latex). We wear safety glasses to protect our eyes from contamination as well as injury.

We hope this information has helped alleviate your concerns regarding your safety and health. If you have any further concerns please do not hesitate to ask us.