Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 [1], the responsibility for cleaning and disinfecting impressions and appliances before sending them to the laboratory lies with the dentist.
On removal of an impression or appliance from the mouth, immediately rinse under cold running water to remove saliva, blood and debris, and continue rinsing until visibly clean.
Disinfect the impression or appliance by immersion in a solution suitable for this purpose, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Note that some materials are dimensionally unstable when immersed in disinfectant and so consult the manufacturer of the material before use.
If using spray disinfectants to disinfect impressions, avoid inhalation risk by placing the impression in a plastic bag before spraying and leaving the impression in the sealed bag for the time recommended by the manufacturer.
To comply with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency [2], inform the dental laboratory that the impression or appliance being sent has been disinfected. Agree with the laboratory the procedure for doing this (e.g. a standard form or label sent with each item, a blanket statement).
Obtain a copy of the laboratory’s policy for receiving and dispatching items to ensure that this is compatible with the practice’s procedures.
Sources of information
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)