Advantages of Hard Surface Barriers

Infection control, hard surface barriers, have several advantages over other types of infection control products. First and perhaps most importantly, barriers aid in the rapid asepsis of the operatory. Time is money and aseptic procedures are more apt to be followed if dental personnel can clean an operatory quickly and efficiently. Steam sterilization of all the instruments or surfaces is impractical and cold sterilization requires waiting for the instruments or surfaces to soak long enough for asepsis (be sure to check the "kill times" for sterilization on all cold sterilizing solutions). Second, many sterilizing solutions are corrosive and aggressively attack your equipment; Over time they can end up being very costly. Last but not least, hard surface barriers are in plain view for your patient to see when they enter your operatory. This visual assurance brings a sense of confidence to your patents that an unseen sterilizing solution or towelette cannot.