Preparing your office for closing:
- Turn off nitrous units & O2 Tanks
- Turn vacuum off but confirm electricity is still supplied to the system (some brands
perform periodic cycles) - Shut off power to air compressor units
- Swap out amalgam separator cartridge if new one is available (to avoid hardening)
- Drain all ultrasonic cleaners & remove any instruments
- Clean & drain sterilizers, leave them empty & unplug to avoid power surges
- Clean model trimmer & run water through to avoid plaster buildup
- Lubricate & sterilize all handpieces (including slow speed motors & attachments)
- Perform shock treatment on delivery system water lines & flush system following
guidelines from the manufacturer - Remove & empty all self-contained water bottles & flush lines until empty & free of water
- Turn off power to all dental units
- Disassemble, clean & lubricate vacuum valves & O-rings on HVE & SE valves
- Turn off all x-rays and unplug pano/cone beam from wall
- Remove all handheld x-ray batteries from charging cradles
- Drain all water from reservoir tank in milling units & replace with fresh water, run the
water pump for one minute or until water stops, then remove & drain reservoir - Clean all vacuum lines & solids collectors
- Turn off x-rays, sterilizers, prophy jets, scalers, etc.
- Empty reservoirs & carafes in water distillers & allow to air dry
- Empty refrigerator in breakroom if you have one
- Run or perform backup of server
- Turn off computer peripherals (scanners, speakers, printers, etc.)
- Keep on servers & backup drive systems, phones, fax machines & security systems
While you are gone:
- Return every 3-4 days to turn on the vacuum & compressor, run warm water through the
vac lines & leave running for at least 15 minutes - Turn on sink at plaster trap & model trimmer for a few minutes to keep from drying out
- Run water in cuspidors & all sinks to prevent traps from drying out
- Turn off all water valves (if you have a wet vacuum, remember turn it back on when you
are back in the office)
We know every dental office is a little bit different, so extra resources are always helpful. For further information, check out this printable checklist from the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA).
