Any item or piece of equipment used in the provision of dental treatment has the potential to transmit infectious agents. Dentists have a statutory duty on dentists under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 [1] to render instruments and equipment safe before repair.
Decontaminate items, including handpieces, using the practice’s usual method before sending them for servicing or repair.
For equipment that cannot be sterilized, clean and disinfect according to manufacturers’ instructions before sending the items for repair.
When sending an item for repair, inform the recipient about how it has been decontaminated.