The risks of not maintaining your dental equipment

The GDC is alerting dental professionals to the risks they run by failing to follow law and regulations which apply to their work, premises, equipment and business.
The reminder is a result of disciplinary hearings involving complaints about failure to maintain equipment properly and failure to retain proper written evidence of maintenance and certification for use.
Dental equipment should be properly and regularly maintained so it performs efficiently, safe and reliably and delivers the desired patient experience.
BDTA members sign up to a Code of Practice which requires that products offered for sale are supported by adequate stocks and technical information.
The BDTA says: "As a professional highly skilled with your hands, there may be a temptation for you to try to do your own servicing and maintenance, but there is a legal responsibility for you to use equipment that is fit for purpose and properly maintained."
"Service engineers are highly trained specialists, with the correct testing equipment and tools and proper liability insurance. In addition, all members of the team who use equipment must be trained and competent to do so."
The GDC has been alerted to cases where single-use equipment, such as gloves and impression trays, have been re-used and even instances where gloves are not used at all.