About this course
Patients deserve to be treated in a safe and clean environment with consistent standards of care every time they receive treatment. This course covers Decontamination, Disinfection and Sterilisation in the dental practice.
This free course is a GDC Highly Recommended CPD Topic (Disinfection and decontamination).
This course is relevant to the whole dental team, particularly those involved in instrument processing.
CPD Time: 1 hour (1 CE Credit)
Customer feedback on this course
- I really found this course helpful in updating my knowledge of what is required of me to do my job to the best of my ability.
- Very informative, didn't realise how out of touch I was.
- The course content is precise and very knowledgeable. Engaging and kept me interested in the material. Very good!
- Good clear concise up to date information, covering all the required topics.
- This course was easy to understand, great explanations.
Assessment: 12 MCQs. Pass mark 75%. more…
On passing the assessment you will immediately receive a GDC-recognised Enhanced CPD Certificate.
Access: You will have access for 12 months, and can take the course as often as you wish in this period.
Aim:
The aim of the learning and teaching materials in this course is to allow learners to develop their professional knowledge, understanding and competence in decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation as part of practice infection control, in line with their identified personal learning requirements.
Course objective:
• to update members of the dental team with current best practice in decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
The learner will:
• understand the differences between decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation.
• understand their importance in keeping people safe.
• understand how their principles are applied in the dental surgery and decon room environments.
• Know what techniques and equipment are required, and how and when to use them.
• through achieving these outcomes, provide an improved level of service to their patients.
GDC Development Outcomes:
B C D
Learning content:
Introduction | In-surgery Decontamination | Decontamination PPE | Gloves and Aprons | Face and Foot Protection | Clothing, Uniforms, and Laundry | Donning and Doffing PPE | Washer-disinfectors | Ultrasonic Baths | Manual Instrument Cleaning | Disinfection | Autoclaves | Storage of Sterilised Items | Course Completion
View full course description
Decontamination, Disinfection and Sterilisation
Course Description
Introduction
This course introduces dental professionals to the principles of decontamination, disinfection, and sterilisation. It outlines the steps required to maintain a clean and safe environment in the dental practice, ensuring compliance with infection control standards.
In-surgery Decontamination
Covers best practices for decontaminating dental instruments and equipment in surgery. This section explains the importance of maintaining a workflow from dirty to clean areas and how to manage reprocessing when no dedicated decontamination room is available.
Decontamination PPE
This section focuses on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during decontamination procedures. It outlines the importance of PPE in preventing cross-contamination and protecting staff from infectious materials.
Gloves and Aprons
Explains the need for appropriate gloves and aprons during decontamination, including the use of single-use gloves and aprons for each procedure. The section also highlights glove types, proper disposal, and hygiene best practices.
Face and Foot Protection
Discusses the necessary face masks, eye protection, and enclosed footwear to safeguard dental staff from contamination risks during cleaning and decontamination processes.
Clothing, Uniforms, and Laundry
This section emphasises the need for freshly laundered uniforms daily and outlines proper laundry procedures to ensure that clinical attire is kept free from contamination.
Donning and Doffing PPE
Learn the correct procedure for putting on and removing PPE to minimise the risk of contamination. This section covers the proper order of removal and the importance of thorough hand hygiene after doffing.
Washer-disinfectors
This section explains how washer-disinfectors work, their benefits over manual cleaning, and the stages involved, including the flush, wash, rinse, disinfection, and drying cycles.
Ultrasonic Baths
Covers the use of ultrasonic baths for cleaning instruments in dental practices without washer-disinfectors. This section explains how ultrasonic waves remove debris and the proper use and maintenance of these devices.
Manual Instrument Cleaning
Provides guidelines for cleaning instruments manually when washer-disinfectors or ultrasonic baths are not available. This section includes best practices for ensuring safety and cleanliness during manual decontamination.
Disinfection
Describes the disinfection process and its role in dental practices. It explains how disinfectants reduce the risk of infection and the types of chemical disinfectants commonly used in dentistry.
Autoclaves
Autoclaves are essential for sterilising instruments. This section explains how they work, the differences between vacuum and non-vacuum autoclaves, and how to monitor and document sterilisation cycles.
Storage of Sterilised Items
Discusses how to properly store sterilised items to prevent recontamination. This section covers storage time limits, environmental conditions, and the importance of maintaining detailed records.
Course Completion
Participants will provide feedback, take a multiple-choice exam, and receive a CPD certificate. The course highlights the practical application of decontamination and sterilisation knowledge to improve patient safety and infection control.
You can copy and adapt this example PDP entry for your own needs and circumstances. The format complies with GDC guidance on PDP structure.
| PDP Learning or Maintenance need |
| Decontamination, Disinfection and Sterilisation |
| How does this relate to my field of practice? |
| I am involved in instrument processing |
| Which development outcome(s) does it link to? |
| B C D |
| What benefit will this have to my work? |
| Perform tasks that are required for my daily role/duties. |
| How will I meet this learning or maintenance need? |
| Take the Verified Learning course on Decontamination, Disinfection and Sterilisation |
| When will I complete the activity? |