Autoclaves are essential for dental practices, ensuring patient safety by delivering reliable sterilisation of instruments. However, they need to withstand the significant demands of a busy dental practice to continue operating efficiently for several years. To protect their investment in this equipment and extend product lifespan, dental teams should follow key maintenance and care protocols.
In-practice maintenance
Effective upkeep starts with daily and weekly measures performed in-house by the dental team. Adhering to the manufacturer’s guidelines for routine testing helps ensure the autoclave consistently operates under optimal conditions, maintaining effective sterilisation and preventing technical issues.
Keeping the autoclave clean is equally important. Regularly inspecting and maintaining door seals, chamber faces, chambers and filters will ensure each aspect remains functional. This also allows for early detection and removal of excessive oil, dust and debris before they can damage the equipment. Leading suppliers in the field will offer enhanced CPD as part of their equipment training for the team, which will cover all this and more.
To further protect the autoclave, practices can use a washer disinfector instead of manually washing reusable instruments before sterilisation. This reduces contamination from debris and organic matter, lowering the risk of build-up within the machine. Additionally, using high-quality water minimises the development of limescale, which can impair autoclave performance over time. This would be an issue if using tap water, for example, because this contains an array of minerals and deposits that cause limescale in any connected apparatus. Instead, practices will need to implement either bottled/distilled water, or a reverse osmosis (RO) water system – with the latter often being the more sustainable and cost-effective solution.
How the autoclave is operated every day also impacts longevity. Proper lubrication of handpieces – once again following manufacturer recommendations – prevents excess oil from accumulating inside the autoclave, which could lead to mechanical issues. In addition, avoiding overloading ensures proper steam penetration and prevents undue strain on the unit.
Professional servicing and compliance
Beyond everyday maintenance, expert support is essential to ensure the long-term reliability of your autoclave. Annual validation and service, completed by a qualified engineer, which requires compliance with the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) 2000, is a legal requirement. This validation process checks steam penetration, temperature, pressure and cycle parameters to confirm effective sterilisation conditions have been met. It also confirms that the pressure valves in the machine remain safe and functional.
Working with a trusted service provider for regular decontamination equipment maintenance helps prevent unexpected breakdowns. Specifically-trained engineers assess the equipment for mechanical and electrical components, making any necessary repairs or replacements before issues are able to escalate. Routine servicing minimises downtime for the practice and ensures the autoclave functions efficiently for years to come.
By following these in-practice and professional maintenance steps, dental teams can get the very most out of their autoclave, ensuring safe and effective instrument sterilisation while extending the lifespan of this vital equipment.
A real-life example
Demonstrating that all the above really does maximise autoclave longevity, one practice in Kent actually had its machine in place for 16 years. Tracey Cage, the practice manager at Kelvin House Dental Practice, said, “It is essential to have reliable infection control equipment in the practice, because we simply can’t work without it. If anything, ever went wrong, someone was out quickly to fix the issue. We also saw the same engineer for many years, which helped with continuity of service, and they always told us exactly what was happening and what we needed to do. Of course, our team played their part in looking after the equipment properly with distilled water and daily/weekly testing for the old machine to ensure it continued to run effectively.”
Kelvin House had a Little Sister autoclave, but used Eschmann to maintain it. “We would absolutely recommend Eschmann equipment and the Care & Cover maintenance programme” Tracey continues. “The entire team have done a fantastic job and we have no complaints at all. The fact that one model lasted 16 years and we have another that is already 12 years old speaks volumes for the quality of the product and service. We will miss our old unit but we look forward to using the new Little Sister SES 3000B for the next decade!”
Looking after your autoclave, both internally and with external expert support, means you too can enjoy maximum product longevity.