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SARS-CoV-2 teaches us that the way we adapt to manage dental infection control better is vital to help practices return anywhere near normal.
In the wake of the novel coronavirus, dental patients are now high-risk customers.
Patients are not only at risk of contracting the virus but equally importantly, they have the potential to infect others at an alarming rate.
Here is what science tells us:
According to The Lancet, the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant is up to 70% more transmissible than other strains.1
Moreover, around 30% of coronavirus carriers are asymptomatic.
And while it’s not clear yet how contagious asymptomatic infections are, 49% of asymptomatic carriers go on to develop symptoms, according to research published in the BMJ.2
Transmissibility poses significant challenges in dental practice.
And a clear need exists to reduce the potential for transmission across every touchpoint, including
- reception and waiting room surfaces;
- restrooms;
- treatment room surfaces;
- treatment room equipment;
- intraoral procedures; and
- aerosol-generating procedures.
10 years ago, CleanCert Holdings Ltd (CHL) began a mission to make dental infection control a faster, safer, and more cost-effective experience.
We harnessed the most exciting chemistry and developed a range of products to manage waterline disinfection, hand and surface disinfection, intraoral bioburden reduction, and water purification.
And we embarked on the industry’s most stringent independent testing program to validate the quality and performance of our innovatively engineered product range.
The ability to provide genuine value in a competitive industry is not easy. It certainly doesn’t happen overnight.
This article highlights the 5 cornerstones of excellence that took 10 years to achieve at CHL.
Our 5 cornerstones of excellence in dental infection control
1. Unique Chemistry
The human immune defence system produces a potent natural biocide called Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to fight infection. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is biocompatible and non-cytotoxic.
Our unique chemistry centres on manufacturing stabilised Hypochlorous acid (HOCl). And optimising the formula for specific uses.
The specific uses include
- infection control;
- broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity;
- biofilm removal;
- waterline management;
- surface disinfection; and
- intra-oral procedures.
Peer publications regularly highlight HOCl’s superior efficacy in destroying viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture — Hypochlorous Acid: Technical Evaluation Report
- National Centre for Biotechnology Information — Hypochlorous Acid: A Review
- International Journal of Clinical Experimental Medicine — Hypochlorous Acid-based Mouthwash
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is up to 100 times more effective than hypochlorite (OCl) at killing pathogens:
HOCl is made by dissolving chlorine in a saline solution using an electrolytic process.
Controlling the chemical process is critical because at around pH 5.5, HOCl begins to dissociate into OCl.
As the pH rises to 8 and above, OCl becomes the dominant ion. At this point, the oxidising power and disinfecting properties decline, rendering the solution less efficacious against viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms.
CHL’s unique chemistry produces Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) at an optimal pH 7. (See Dia. 2.)
Equally, our stabilisation process results in HOCl products with 12-month shelf life.
Stabilisation matters because some Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) products destabilise and lose efficacy in as little as 5 days. (Read our article on the risks associated with making your own HOCl.)
Dia. 2: CHL’s products (CleanCert, OptiZil, and OraWize) are produced under quality-controlled conditions at pH 7
2. Quality Assured Manufacturing
Developing unique chemistry is one thing but maintaining consistency when you need to manufacture at scale is a different challenge.
CHL’s customer base value that we manufacture our products in a facility with an ISO13485 Quality Management System.
ISO13485 ensures a high-quality product in every manufacturing cycle, along with a detailed audit trail from the raw material to the finished product, and out into the supply chain. Every product is traceable back to its source.
Quality assurance procedures in manufacturing allow dentists to mitigate infection risks from viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms with confidence.
CHL’s customers never have to fear the consequences of using a product with no efficacy due to de-stabilisation. Or unwittingly handle a product that has become toxic due to chemical imbalance.
3. Testing and Accreditation
Rigorous testing and accreditation have always been critical drivers of excellence at CHL.
Independent testing is the result of a significant investment over the last 10 years — and sits at the heart of our evidence-based approach to infection control.
Our products are proven to be 99.9999% effective (6 log reduction) against viruses; tested and approved to BS EN14476 for viral efficacy.
The approvals also confirm efficacy in 1-minute, which is up to 10-times-faster than competitors products made from QACs.
Therefore, many respected scientific studies and journals cite CHL in their publications.
4. Supply Chain
We make it simple to buy CHL products.
Our supply chain consists of carefully vetted distributors who have a proven track record of service and supply to the dental profession.
Products are available from our authorised distribution partners and directly from our website.
Throughout the pandemic, reports highlight that some manufactures of infection control and personal protection supplies have taken advantage of the demand and inflated their prices.
CHL takes a dim view of this unethical practice and ensures that our disinfectant range is consistently available at affordable prices.
Our price policy is part of our commitment to support the dental industry in good times and challenging times.
5. CPD Courses
Keeping up with the latest scientific findings, HSE best practices, and continually evolving government legislation can often seem daunting.
So CleanCert Holdings Ltd (CHL) runs a professional CPD Academy to equip our dental professional colleagues with the knowledge they need to perform at the industry’s forefront.
We deliver courses and educational resources online to our customers. The learning is eCPD compliant. And certificates are awarded to participants who complete the Q&A section at the end of each course.
If you would like to learn more about our mission to create excellence in clinical infection control and the benefits we can pass on to your dental practice, feel free to get in touch by emailing sales@cleancert.co.uk