maxill's Dental Blog

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) is at the heart of safe dental care. While much of the conversation focuses on sterilization, PPE, and operatory protocols, questions often arise about something more everyday: Can we have animals or plants in the dental office?

The answer lies in understanding accessibility laws, IPAC standards, and the principle that everything in the patient care environment must be capable of being cleaned and disinfected.

Animals in the Dental Office

Service animals, such as trained dogs assisting patients with disabilities, are permitted in dental offices under accessibility and inclusion laws. These animals must be allowed entry and cannot be denied access to care.

Emotional support or personal pets, however, are not protected under these laws and are not permitted in dental offices unless they qualify as certified service animals.

That said, staff members sometimes wonder if they can bring

If you've ever paused mid-procedure and thought:

"This is literally a human body part... how is this NOT biohazard waste?" You're not alone. One of the most misunderstood areas in dental Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) is biomedical waste classification, especially when it comes to extracted teeth. Let's clear it up.

First: What Is Biomedical Waste?

According to the Centre for Disease Control and dental regulatory bodies, biomedical waste is classified as hazardous waste and must:

• Be stored in colour-coded containers with the universal biohazard symbol
• Be released to an approved biomedical waste carrier

However, that does NOT include all waste.

Biomedical waste falls into two categories:

1. Anatomical Waste (Human Tissue)

This

Let's be honest: dental offices are constantly being asked to invest in something, equipment, supplies, staffing, software, repairs, continuing education... the list never ends.

So, when an office hears the price of a professionally built IPAC program, the first reaction is often:

"Can we get a discount?"

And I get it.

But here's the better question:

So... what if it only cost $9/day... for one year only?
Is $9 worth peace of mind?

Why clinics shop an IPAC manual like it's a box of gloves (and why it isn't)

When clinics ask for discounts, it's not always because they don't care about IPAC.

Most of the time, it's because they don't realize what they're actually buying.

Because an IPAC manual is not a box of gloves.
It's not a commodity.
It's not something you compare like price tags on supplies.

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

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

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

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

Over the past week, I’ve received several emails from dental professionals asking about information they received during various IPAC sessions within the dental community, specifically around the placement and use of the Type V chemical indicator (CI).

Two common questions have emerged:

1. Is a Class IV CI in a cassette sufficient?
2. If a Class V is placed in all cassettes, is there still a need for a Type V in a Process Challenge Device (PCD)?

These questions are important. They show that people are listening, engaging, and wanting to do things right. But they also highlight why dismantling received information and fact-checking for evidence is essential in infection prevention and control (IPAC).

1. The Risk of Passive Acceptance

In the IPAC world, information travels quickly, especially when it’s shared confidently or

Health and Safety (H&S) training in Ontario is more than just a compliance box to check; it’s a legal requirement that protects both staff and patients. “The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the rights and duties of all parties in the workplace, as well as the procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and for enforcement as needed” (Government of Ontario, 2017). The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) sets the standards and enforces training requirements through audits, inspections, and yearly “blitzes.” Understanding what is actually mandatory can help dental offices stay compliant, avoid costly penalties, and most importantly, keep the workplace safe.

In the health care sector, MLITSD has announced a two-phase Workplace Violence Prevention blitz for 2025–2026. Phase 1, running from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, focuses on education, outreach, and awareness in partnership with the Public Services Health and

In a dental setting, we habitually talk about “Infection prevention,” “sterilization,” and “barrier protection.” But as pathogens evolve, or as outbreaks resurge, it’s worth revisiting some fundamentals in an era of stronger pathogens: what “stronger bugs” we might face, what disinfectants actually eliminate them, and what personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed when you’re using more potent chemicals.

Viral mutations, global travel, and environmental pressures have contributed to more resilient microorganisms and more frequent re-emergence of previously controlled diseases — for example, measles. To meet these challenges, dentistry has responded with broad-spectrum, hospital-grade disinfectants capable of neutralizing the toughest microbial threats. But that same chemical strength demands an equally strong commitment to safe handling and appropriate PPE.

Understanding “Stronger Bugs”: Viruses, Bacteria, and Benchmark Organisms

Not all microorga