Healthcare has a significant environmental footprint, and dentistry is no exception. Also, instruments are one area where clinics can make meaningful, practical improvements.
Choose durable, reusable instruments
Quality stainless steel instruments can be reused hundreds or thousands of times. Over their life they generally create less waste than single-use alternatives.
Extend instrument life
- Generally, clean promptly and follow good reprocessing practice.
- Sharpen rather than replace.
- Repair high-value instruments where possible.
Optimise kits
Remove instruments that are never used from kits. Fewer instruments per kit means less water, energy and detergent per reprocessing cycle.
Efficient reprocessing
- Run full autoclave and washer loads where possible.
- Maintain equipment so it runs efficiently.
- In general, use cassettes to reduce packaging waste compared with individual pouches.
Recycling
Generally, stainless steel is highly recyclable. Retired instruments can often be recycled as scrap metal through appropriate channels once decontaminated, following local regulations.
Packaging
Ask suppliers about reducing packaging and using recyclable materials, especially for bulk orders.
A balanced view
Patient safety and infection control always come first. Sustainability measures should work within validated reprocessing protocols.
Aurix supplies reusable stainless steel instruments and optimised kits. Build a kit with only what you need.
