As computers become more common in the dental operatory, issues concerning the cleaning and disinfecting of computer equipment are becoming more prevalent. Hospitals have been dealing with these issues for some time, and they have great, albeit expensive methods for dealing with them.
One example is that hospital monitors are often designed to be disinfected, and come with flat glass screens which are impervious to chemicals. Hospital keyboards in patient care areas are often either flat with no ridges, or use a touch screen interface to simplify cleaning.
Since most dental offices choose to use standard computer equipment, many of the hospital’s methods do not apply. There are a few things that I have seen used in the past that I thought I would share with you today. You will have to judge the effectiveness of these methods yourself, as I am not a medical professional. However, hopefully these ideas will either agree with you, or will spark your imagination and help you come up with your own solution.
Mice and keyboards pose the most common problems. A computer keyboard is often a cleaning & disinfecting nightmare, with all the individual buttons, complex shapes, ridges and gaps. It goes without saying that the mouse and keyboard should be wireless; cords would add a whole extra level of complexity, and would be a nightmare to keep clean.
Bluetooth mice and keyboard sets are widely available, have great range, and can be configured to not interfere with other computers in close proximity.
The most common solution I have seen for keeping the mouse clean is simply to use a stick on barrier film. This allows the buttons to be pressed freely, and cleaning the mouse is as simple as replacing the barrier. This assumes that the mouse is being used on a clean surface, and that there is no chance of the bottom of the mouse becoming contaminated.
Another solution is to use a Ziploc style bag. This could cause some problems with tracking if the bag were to get bunched up under the mouse, but cleaning the mouse is as simple as replacing the baggie.
Keyboards have several options available. There are plastic, roll up keyboards available – these still have the problem of a varied surface, but can be sprayed down with disinfectant and left to soak.
Many companies make plastic keyboard covers to prevent dust and crumbs from getting into the inner workings of the keyboard. These covers could also work in a dental office by allowing you to remove the cover and spray it down, or spray the keyboard with the cover in place. The downside to this method is that the covers do not last very long, since they are not designed to be exposed to harsh chemical.
The most common method that I see?
Simply wrapping the keyboard with Saran Wrap, and replacing the plastic between each patient.
What do you think of the methods described above? Have you used some or all of them in the past? Do you have an idea that works better? Leave a comment below, and share your ideas with your fellow readers.
Dentist with computer
Tags: Dental Equipment, Dental Imaging and X-Ray, dental lab equipment
