Ace the HESI Chairside Challenge 2026 – Elevate Your Dental Assisting Skills!

Instruments used for oral surgery should be sterilized after every use to ensure the highest standard of patient safety and infection control. This practice helps eliminate any pathogens that may be present on the instruments and prevents the risk of cross-contamination between patients. It is particularly crucial in dental procedures where invasive techniques are involved, as any unsterilized instrument could potentially transmit infections or diseases.

Sterilization after every use is a vital protocol in healthcare settings to adhere to established guidelines set by regulatory bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These guidelines emphasize that all surgical instruments, which can potentially come into contact with blood or saliva, must be properly cleaned and sterilized after each patient to maintain a safe clinical environment.

Other suggested frequencies of sterilization, such as weekly or monthly, would not adequately mitigate the risks associated with infectious diseases. Sterilizing instruments only before each patient may leave a window for contamination between procedures, which is also not considered a best practice in infection control. Continuous adherence to sterilization protocols is essential to uphold the integrity of dental procedures and patient health.