DNI 4 Project 3: Equipment Maintenance, Validation, and Record Keeping

This DNI 4 project focuses on the maintenance and validation of dental equipment, emphasizing the importance of these practices for infection control and patient safety. It details the maintenance procedures for various equipment, including dental chairs, aspirators, handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, X-ray machines, processing equipment, autoclaves, and ultrasonic baths. The project highlights the necessity of maintaining water lines to prevent contamination and outlines the actions to be taken in the event of equipment failure. It also covers the records maintained for validation, servicing, and general health checks of equipment, explaining why these records are essential for audits and peer reviews and how long they must be stored. A reflective account summarizes the learning experience, and a list of references used, including Levinson's book chapters and articles on COVID-19 impacts and ethical challenges in dental practice, is provided. This project aligns with knowledge and understanding for Unit DNI 1, DNI 12 and the exam.

DN4 Project 3: Equipment
Please refer to your Award Standards to ensure that all Range have been
included in your answers
DNI 4: LO3;AC1
Please complete the following table how is the following equipment maintained and
validated
Dental Chair
At the end of the day the chair has to be cleaned and
flushed through with solution, e.g. oratol and once a year
a professional will come and check the chair.
Aspirator
Has to be wiped down after use and if possible to have a
cover/barrier on.
Handpieces
Have to be oiled, wiped and sterilised.
Ultra-sonic scaler
Never soaked in water only the tip can be cleaned under
water if no wiped and sterilised.
x- ray machine
Has to be validated every year and wiped down after use.
Processing
equipment
All processing equipment has to be wiped down with a
suitable cleaning agent after each used and should be
protected with a cover.
autoclave
A helix test has to be done on a daily basis or a TST strip
Dental Nurse Academy: DNI 4 Project 3-EQUIPMENT

to check if is working properly, and every 6 months or
year validated by a professional.
Ultrasonic bath
Maintenance of this maintained through caring out
weekly checks like safety checks and protein residue test.
DNI 4: LO2 AC4,AC5
Discuss how you maintain the water lines and why this is necessary?
It is necessary to maintain water lines so that the water system is not
contaminated with Legionella or any other bacteria. This is maintained by using
special chemicals , flush with distilled water, use a separate source of single use
sterile water. Flushing the lines should be done for 2 minutes at the begging of the
day and then after every 20-30 seconds in between patients.
DNI 4: LO3;AC4
What actions would be taken in event of any equipment failure( please provide
examples)?
In an event of an equipment failure this should be reported immediately. For
example if the autoclave cycle test has failed the person in charge should be notified
because if there is just one autoclave and 3 surgeries in use we might just call it a day
as equipment can not be sterilised.
DNI 4: LO3; AC4,AC5
What records are maintained relating to validation and servicing/ general health
checks of equipment?
The date and year are written on the equipment and in a log every time
validation or servicing is done.
Why do they need to be stored and recorded?
They need to be stored and recorded because in case anything happens we
have prove that the service has took place and that it has been validated accordingly,
and also for clinical audit and peer review.
How long are records stored for?
Records are stored for 11 years.
Dental Nurse Academy: DNI 4 Project 3-EQUIPMENT

Who can/ will inspect these servicing and validation records?
The care quality commission can or will inspect this or in case of an audit.
Reflective Account: Please take some time to think about what you have learnt
so far (provide a summary)on the attached reflective practice account
References used: Please list all references/ resources used:
1. Levinson book chapter 8
2. Levinson book chapter 4
3. Levinsonbook chapter 3
4. Sharma, S., Parolia, A. and Kanagasingam, S., 2020. A review on COVID-19
mediated impacts and risk mitigation strategies for dental health professionals.
European journal of dentistry, 14(S 01), pp.S159-S164.
5. Kemparaj, V.M., Panchmal, G.S. and Kadalur, U.G., 2018. The Top 10 ethical
challenges in dental practice in Indian scenario: Dentist perspective.
Contemporary clinical dentistry, 9(1), p.97.
6. Kaufmann, M., Solderer, A., Gubler, A., Wegehaupt, F.J., Attin, T. and
Schmidlin, P.R., 2020. Quantitative measurements of aerosols from air-polishing
and ultrasonic devices:(How) can we protect ourselves?. PLoS One, 15(12),
p.e0244020.
Please ensure that you have checked your spelling and grammar prior to
submitting.
Please ensure all evidence is signed and dated by yourself to confirm authenticity of
your evidence.
Dental Nurse Academy: DNI 4 Project 3-EQUIPMENT

This unit also supports knowledge and understanding for Unit DNI 1, DNI 12 and your exam
Dental Nurse Academy: DNI 4 Project 3-EQUIPMENT