Dental Surgery Cleaning Checklist

At ServiceMaster Clean, we know a thing or two about cleaning. We’ve cleaned almost every type of business there is. From warehouses to medical practices, we offer a range of cleaning services.

We also know that having a plan in place helps to maintain a clean, sanitary environment. Through tried and tested methods, we’ve developed checklists for many of the businesses we work with to help them keep things clean and tidy.

If you work in a dental surgery, you’ll know the importance of cleaning. You’ll also know that first impressions count. From the reception area and beyond, every room in the practice should be clean, tidy and fresh. Patients want to feel at ease when coming in for treatment, and having excellent standards of cleanliness will help.

The Importance of a Clean Dental Surgery

There are standards, regulations and guidelines in place for dental practices in regards to cleaning. The Care Quality Commission has guidelines on what to do with cleaning dental equipment.

The 2008 Health and Social Care Act states that ‘Criterion 2 of the code describes the requirement to provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment in managed premises that facilitates the prevention and control of infections.’ All healthcare providers, including dentists, should have protocols in place for cleaning.

To maintain compliance in line with infection control measures, protocols should detail each room, its risk level and the cleaning schedule. This should also include when tasks are performed and how often. You can find the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness for NHS practices here. However, guidance differs in England and Wales, but we are up to date with best practices for cleaning in healthcare settings.

Guidance on cleaning, sanitising and disinfection

Dental Surgery Cleaning Checklist

To begin, break down each of your rooms to create the checklist.

You can include things like:

Staff areas (kitchen, office areas)
Reception area
Bathrooms
Treatment areas

Then, the next stage is to break everything down into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. You can also include things that need deep cleaning more often and when to restock supplies.

Here is an example of things to include:

Daily:

Wipe down and disinfect any contact points/surfaces
Sanitize all surfaces
Hoover in all rooms
Mop as necessary
Clean bathrooms
Restock supplies
Sanitise and deep clean the waiting areas
Empty bins

Weekly:

Restock supplies
Hoover all surfaces
Dust surfaces
Take time to give areas a deeper clean at the end of each week
Disinfect bins
Monitor clinical waste levels

Monthly:

Deep clean every room once a month
Sanitise all surfaces focusing on ones that aren’t done as part of the regular schedule
Wipe down/wash any glass or windows
Check any upholstery to see if it needs deep cleaning
Check behind all chairs, toilets, appliances and clean
Wipe down/clean fans, blinds or extractor fans

This is an example of the tasks you may need to complete. They will differ depending on several factors such as the size of your practice, the number of staff and patients you have etc.

If you are looking for additional help with cleaning your dental surgery, whether that’s a one-off deep clean or a more regular, scheduled clean, we can help. We tailor each service to your needs.