SECTION 195:35-1-3. Required sterilization and disinfection

(a)   Sterilization is required for all surgical and other instruments that may be used intra orally or extra orally, where these instruments may be used invasively in penetration of soft tissue, bone, or other hard tissue. Other non-surgical instruments, such as plastic instruments, that may come in contact with tissue must be disinfected with a solution that is tuberculocidal.

(b)   All instruments subject to sterilization must undergo at least one of the following procedures:

(1)   Steam autoclave

(2)   Chemical vapor autoclave

(3)   Dry-heat oven

(4)   Ethylene oxide

(5)   Chemical sterilant (used in concentrations and time periods approved by the manufacturer)

(c)   Sterilization equipment and its adequacy shall be tested and verified on a regular basis.

(d)   Following a dental procedure, all instrumentation and equipment that may have become contaminated with blood, saliva, or tissue debris must be, at a minimum, disinfected and preferably sterilized before utilization for patient care.

(e)   Prior to sterilization, all instruments must be free of any visible debris and must be either scrubbed thoroughly with a detergent and water solution or debrided in an ultrasonic cleaning device.

(f)   Oral prosthetic appliances and devices from a dental laboratory must be washed with a detergent and water solution, rinsed, disinfected, and rinsed before the appliance or device is placed into a patient's mouth.

(g)   Disposable (non-resterilizable) items, including but not limited to gloves, needles, intravenous fluids, intravenous administration tubing, intravenous catheters/needles, and like items, shall not be used in the treatment of more than one patient.

(h)   All items contaminated by body fluids during patient care must be treated as biohazardous material. All contaminated single-use items must be disposed of through established Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for such disposal. Teeth or tissue fragments to be used for microscopic, testing, or educational purposes must be sterilized prior to use. Such tissues must be handled and stored as biohazardous material until sterilization is performed.

[Source: Added at 14 Ok Reg 1552, eff 7-1-97]