Recent Blog Posts

• Where Should the Handpiece Docking Station Live: Cleaning or Packaging?

  Posted: January 15, 2026

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional
  

  Where Should the Handpiece Docking Station Live: Cleaning or Packaging?

  Short answer... the handpiece docking station (lubrication and flushing unit) belongs on the cleaning side (non-sterile / decontamination side), not the packaging side.

  Long answer... see below... because this is where audits often get murky.

  Framing the Discussion

  Before discussing where a handpiece docking station should be located, it is worth pausing to ask a more specific question:

  What actually comes after handpiece cleaning and lubrication?

  It is easy to assume the answer is packaging.
  But that assumption skips a critical step.

  Cleaning and lubrication do not mean a handpiece is ready to be packaged.

  There is a required pause in the workflow: inspection.

  Inspection is the moment where the handpiece is deliberately assessed to confirm that internal

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• The Partition Problem: Where Separation Really Belongs in Dental Reprocessing

  Posted: January 15, 2026

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional
  

  Instrument reprocessing in the dental office does not need to be complicated to be effective. In fact, the simplest workflows are often the safest, especially in today's dental landscape where reprocessing tasks may be performed by individuals without formal dental or infection prevention training.

  At the centre of effective reprocessing is a clear, one-way workflow... moving instruments from non-sterile to sterile without confusion, crossover, or unnecessary handling.

  

  Why Language Matters in the Reprocessing Area

  During audits, reprocessing spaces are often described using terms such as:

  • Decontamination area
  • Clean area
  • Sterile area

  While

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• Burs and Sterilization: Why “Old Habits” No Longer Meet Today’s Standards

  Posted: December 23, 2025

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional
  

  If you look closely at the Manufacturer's Instructions for Use (MIFU) that come with burs, the guidance is consistent: burs must be sterilized prior to use, unless you've purchased a brand that is individually packaged and pre-sterilized. Despite this, outdated habits still linger in many practices, habits that no longer align with today's infection prevention and control (IPAC) standards.

  Proper Steps for Bur Reprocessing

  To meet best practice and compliance requirements, burs should follow this reprocessing pathway:

  1. Unpack the burs upon arrival.
  2. Remove the protective plastic caps (these are for shipping protection only, not sterile barriers).
  3. Clean the burs according to your office's validated cleaning protocol (ultrasonic or washer-disinfector).
  4. Dry thoroughly.
  5. Package

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• When IPAC Standards Don’t Spell It Out: Why Dental Professionals Must Use Clinical Judgement in IPAC, Especially With Labelling and Traceability

  Posted: December 04, 2025

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Patient Health , Professional
  

  In dentistry, many clinicians still fall into a dangerous trap:
  “If my regulatory body didn’t explicitly say to do it, then I don’t have to do it.”

  This mindset shows up most often with instrument package labelling, documentation, chart entries, and sterilization traceability. Some clinicians insist:

  • “My IPAC guideline doesn’t say I must label packages.”
  • “It doesn’t specifically say to write sterilization data in the patient chart.”
  • “It doesn’t use the exact words ‘track’ or ‘trace,’ so why should I?”

  But here’s the truth, just because your regulator doesn’t list every micro-step does NOT mean you are exempt from performing it. Your responsibility is to use professional judgement and follow recognized IPAC standards to protect patient safety. Let’s explore why.

  Regulatory Bodies Cannot Write a Step-by-Step Manual for Every Clinic

  No

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