Use It, or Lose It – Readying Your Equipment for the Post Covid 19 Influx of Patients

Published by Michelle Haupt on Apr 16, 2020

By Joseph Ross, President Ross Orthodontic

Every day headlines report we are nearing the peak of this pandemic; normalcy will return soon. Until that happens, your equipment is sitting doing nothing. Since all offices have been shut down and seeing only emergency cases, the backup of current and existing patient appointments is only building. You don’t want to start seeing patients and immediately have to stop to make repairs due to equipment inactivity. The old adage ‘use it, or lose it’ applies here. Not using your equipment on a daily basis can cause minor problems when you start up again. Be proactive, be prepared, and be ready.

Here are some simple steps to maintaining your equipment, and being ready for the return to work.

Mechanical Room

• If you have a water filter system, it might be a good time to change the filter first
• Change the vacuum filter basket strainer on the side of the vacuum pump
• Turn on water solenoid and vacuum pump, listen for any leaks or open lines, and fix as needed. Turn off vacuum pump
• If you have filters on your compressor and have not changed them recently or ever, we recommend doing so
• Turn on compressor and let compressor fully cycle and fill up tank, listen for air leaks, and fix as needed

Chairs

• First, clean and disinfect the chairs using the recommended CDC products
• Using warm soapy water, completely and thoroughly wash all vinyl surfaces; this removes any of the residual chemical build-up
• Apply a vinyl/leather restorer-protectant. Available on Amazon, most auto parts stores, Walmart, K-mart, and other home stores.
• Run the chair completely down and up, both the back and the base several times. This will keep the gears, bearings, and bushings lubed and oiled

Units

• First, clean and disinfect the units using the recommended CDC products, with one We have found that using products containing peroxide on any metal surfaces may cause pitting and corrosion. We recommend not using these products on vacuum valves or syringes
• With the vacuum and compressor off, clean and replace all vacuum strainers and baskets. A typical office has a small basket in the saliva ejector tip and a larger basket one in the solids collector. More than likely it is located inside the unit itself
• If applicable remove the high vacuum and saliva ejector tips from the quick disconnect base on each hose. Disassemble each tip and drop into the ultrasonic cleaner to remove any residual particles and cleaning. Reassemble the tips using a silicone-based lubricant. Operate each tip prior to putting back in the tubing base
• Most modern units come with a pneumatic valve set up that shuts off the air and water to each unit. Inside each one of these valves is a small filter. These should be cleaned and/or replaced
• Turn on vacuum and air compressor, and turn on each unit one at a time. Listen for any leaks repair as needed
• Use each of the air/water syringes, handpieces, and vacuum valves as if you were having a normal day. Repair and replace any sticky valves, tighten any loose connectors, and replace any leaking or worn components
• It’s a good time to replace old handpiece gaskets as well
• Now might be a good time to rebuilt your air-water syringe if you have never done so. The daily use and contaminants from city water can build up and cause the buttons to stick
• Remove and clean the bottled water system using the recommended CDC guidelines and chemicals
• After checking each unit, empty bottled water system bottle, return to unit, and pressurize. Flush water from system by using the water in the handpieces and syringe until only air comes out. Then remove the bottle
• Shut off all units and the mechanical systems when finished with maintenance We recommend operating each chair and unit at least once per week to keep everything functioning properly.

Refer to your individual equipment manufacturer for specific instructions on maintenance and repairs.

Joseph Ross is the President of Ross Orthodontic, and he is recognized as one of the specialists in orthodontic office and equipment design. He has hosted round-table discussions at the AAO annual sessions, written articles on office design, equipment, lighting, sterilization, laboratory design and ergonomics, all specifically for the orthodontist. Joseph has designed more than a thousand orthodontic offices all over the world and assisted in the design of some of the top orthodontic university clinics including LSU, University of Texas Houston, University of Texas San Antonio, Roseman University, University of Tennessee, and Louisville.