Time Constraints

The overall absence of appropriate sterilization protocols for an item used on every patient is a frightening reality.

Manufacturers provide manuals on how to clean a syringe, but due to the intricate steps required, most offices perform a simple wipe and consider it sufficient. Dentists, orthodontists, or hygienists often find it impossible to allocate the necessary time to follow the manufacturers' recommended cleaning steps. The time constraints associated with seeing the next patient do not permit the completion of the necessary cleaning steps. When you cannot remove an air water syringe and cannot adhere to the manufacturer’s cleaning methods, you begin to understand the root of the problem.

Did You Know?

Every handpiece attached to the dental chair can be removed and sterilized, with the exception of an air water syringe.

Lack of Transparency

Now let's go back a step. Some syringes have been designed to include a safety feature to remove the head of the syringe or the outer sleeve to be sterilized. The problem is, a dentist, orthodontist, and hygienist are not aware their device has this safety feature.

What good is a safety feature if the companies that manufacture and sell the product do not provide proper instruction or information to dentists, orthodontists, or hygienists on how to use it? Furthermore, the necessary items to make the safety feature effective are often categorized as optional. This is when it becomes clear why many offices, even if they are aware of the syringe's safety feature, still do not implement it—simply put, it involves costs. To maintain a safe air water syringe, offices must have a minimum of ten replacement sleeves or heads to switch out between patients in each surgery. The manufacturer contributes to the problem by labeling these items as optional for the distributor, who, in turn, leads dentists, orthodontists, and hygienists to believe that these optional parts are unnecessary for daily operations.

It's an industry problem that requires an immediate solution. If a component enhances the safety of an air water syringe, it should be a standard feature, not an option.

Optional Equipment?

Let's provide an example of how this sounds. You and your family visit a car dealership to purchase a car. You find the car you like, but it is a little too expensive. So, to save money, you request the dealership to remove the airbags and seatbelts. These are optional safety features, right?

Manufacturers have portrayed their safety add-ons as optional, but they should educate dentists, orthodontists, and hygienists about the increased safety these parts can provide for an air water syringe. This education should also include information on how it can reduce risks and enhance protection for both patients and staff. However, the disconnect between manufacturers, dental distributors, and dental offices has led to a lack of understanding required for the proper sterilization of an air water syringe. When items are labeled as optional, offices tend to perceive them as unnecessary perks.

When it comes to the safety of you or your family, safety should not be optional; it should be a standard practice.

Working with a Budget

Money in the majority of dental offices is very tight, and dentists and hygienists are trained to watch what they spend.

Due to restricted budgets, offices typically purchase only the necessary items for their daily tasks and duties. Spending money on optional equipment that is not considered a necessity is very rare. You might be surprised at the measures certain dental offices take to cut costs. There have been cases where dental offices reused latex gloves, as well as disposable air water syringe tips, matrix bands, saliva ejectors, and many other items in an attempt to reduce their expenses. These "shortcuts" lead to risky dental procedures that could harm patients. This risky behavior arises from the professionals trying to work within a tight budget.

When offices attempt to cut costs, what other safety items do they consider unnecessary?