Every instrument used at a dental clinic comes into contact with the inside of the mouth, which makes hygiene an indisputable priority. Intraoral scanners hold a special place in this respect: because they contain electronic and optical components, they cannot be sterilized with high heat in an autoclave like other instruments. In terms of dental clinic hygiene, separate protocols are applied for these devices. As DijiDent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic, we openly share with our patients the standards we apply at our clinic in Türkiye.
How Is Hygiene Ensured in Scanners?
Removable Tips
The tip of the scanner that enters the mouth is removable. Tips that meet the conditions specified by the manufacturer are removed after each patient, cleaned and put through the sterilization process. In some systems, these tips are replaced after a certain number of uses; the number of uses is tracked.
Disposable Sleeves
The body and cable of the device are covered with a new protective sleeve for each patient. These sleeves are discarded at the end of the procedure. In this way, the surface in direct contact is renewed for every patient.
Surface Disinfection
After the sleeve is removed, the device body is wiped with disinfectants approved by the manufacturer. There is an important detail here: unsuitable chemicals can damage the optical surfaces and degrade image quality. For this reason, a random disinfectant is not used.
Standards Applied Throughout the Clinic
- Sterilization of instruments: Heat-resistant instruments go through washing, packaging and autoclave stages.
- Sterilization verification: The effectiveness of the process is regularly checked with chemical and biological indicators.
- Unit surfaces: Contact surfaces such as the patient chair, light arm, saliva ejector connections and keyboard are disinfected between every patient.
- Water lines: The unit waterlines are disinfected regularly.
- Disposable materials: Gloves, masks, gowns, cups, suction tips and syringe tips are renewed for each patient.
- Waste management: Medical waste is separated and disposed of in accordance with the legislation.
The Hygiene Advantage of Digital Impressions
This is also an advantage of the digital method that is rarely mentioned. In a conventional impression, the mold is disinfected after it comes out of the patient’s mouth and sent to the laboratory; additional steps are needed to manage the risk of cross-contamination in this chain. In digital scanning, there is no physical material coming out of the mouth; what goes to the laboratory is only a data file.
Staff Training and Continuity
Infection control is not achieved with a purchased device but with a sustained discipline. Having written protocols, the clinical team receiving regular training and recording the application form the basis of this discipline. Skipping a single stage can render the entire chain ineffective. For this reason, at our clinic the sterilization process is carried out with defined responsibilities and is audited regularly.
What Can You Ask as a Patient?
It is your right to ask your clinic these questions, and a professional clinic is not bothered to answer them. You can ask how instruments are sterilized, whether sterilization checks are carried out, whether the scanner tip is changed for each patient and about the use of disposable materials. Packaged instruments being opened in front of the patient is one of the most visible indicators of the standard applied.
The Information Expected from You
Infection control is a two-way process. If you have a contagious disease, an active infection or a condition affecting your immune system, it is important to share this. This information allows additional precautions to be planned for you. At our clinic, standard precautions are applied to all patients; your sharing makes a personalized approach possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Packaged instruments being opened in front of the patient, staff using gloves and masks, and surfaces being wiped between patients are observable indicators.
The tips are removed after each patient and put through the sterilization process; the protective sleeves are discarded and renewed.
The body cannot; however, the removable tips are sterilized under the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
Since there is no physical material transfer, it reduces some risks; however, standard protocols are applied in both methods.
Clinics keep these records. It is your right to request information.
Yes. Standard precautions are applied to everyone; however, your sharing makes personalized planning possible and increases your treatment safety.
A safe clinic does not hesitate to answer your questions.
Contact us to book an appointment to get information about the hygiene and sterilization standards we apply or to plan your treatment. At DijiDent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic, we prioritize your safety.
This content is for general information purposes. The protocols applied are carried out within the framework of the device manufacturer’s instructions and the relevant legislation.
