Are you searching for an autoclave for your dental clinic in Australia? Do you want to get buy the right autoclave for your dental practice? Please keep reading.
An autoclave or a steam steriliser is a must in a dental clinic. It uses high pressure and high-temperature steam to sterilise dental equipment and materials intended for re-use.
Any autoclave to be used in a dental clinic in Australia is required to meet the Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS4185.
Different Types of Autoclaves
Autoclaves can be categorised into 3 main types including class B, class S and class N.
Class N autoclaves are designed to sterilise simple materials and therefore, these can't be used for sterilising hollow items, porous loads, textiles and products in pouches among other things.
The N in this class means naked solid products. An important distinguishing feature of these autoclaves is that a vacuum is not created in the chamber at the beginning of each sterilisation cycle.
In class S autoclaves, a steam wall is pushed inside the chamber. Since steam is denser than air, it pushes the air outside.
This process is repeated 3 times during the sterilisation cycle which ensures the complete extraction of air inside.
This type of autoclave can be used for sterilisation of porous and pouched products but it is not suitable for textile items.
The class B autoclaves use a vacuum pump to remove the air inside the sterilisation chamber.
Removal of air creates a negative pressure that helps in forcing steam entry into the chamber.
These autoclaves as used for sterilising all kinds of material such as porous instruments, textile loads and all the other materials which makes them the perfect autoclave for use in dental clinics.
Simply put, the best autoclave for dental clinics in Australia is a class B autoclave. This is due to the reason that it can be used for sterilising a wide variety of products.
Even though these are small in size, it doesn't mean that you have to compromise on performance, efficiency and safety standards.
Other Factors to Consider
In addition to the above-mentioned technical standards, you also need to focus on some of the other factors to choose the right autoclave for dental practices.
1. Capacity: Thankfully, autoclaves are available in a wide range of capacities ranging from just a few litres to more than 20 L. Needless to say, higher capacity means more products can be sterilised during each sterilisation cycle.
The choice of capacity will depend on your particular requirements. It doesn't make sense to buy a higher capacity autoclave if you have no need for greater capacity.
It is also recommended to buy two smaller autoclaves instead of buying a bigger one in order to perform simultaneous sterilisation cycles and save time.
2. Time Taken for Sterilisation: This parameter refers to the sterilisation cycle duration. Some models available in the market have a quick sterilisation cycle option which saves a lot of time though it comes at a higher price.
3. Customer Service: There is no denying that you want to buy a good quality autoclave but even a high-quality autoclave is not going to perform at optimum efficiency without regular maintenance and servicing.
Therefore, you need to pay special attention to the after-sale service offered by the supplier. Make sure they have the right technical professionals to maintain and service the autoclave, as and when needed.
4. Prices: Autoclaves are a necessity in dental practices and price is an important factor but it shouldn't be the only factor to make your buying decision.
Don't forget that cheap autoclaves typically mean poor or non-existent after-sales service.
Conclusion
Overall, class B autoclave is the right choice for a dental clinic in Australia. The choice of a particular model will depend on your particular needs and how busy your dental clinic is.
Following the above-mentioned tips will help you in making the right choice when buying an autoclave for your dental clinic.
If you are searching for the best autoclave supplier in Australia, then look no further than Medical Equipment Services Australia.
We were originally established in 1952 in order to provide electro-medical products to healthcare professionals across the country.
The company (Medical Equipment Services) was acquired by Medical Equipment Australia in 2009. Since then, we have also expanded into the dental industry.
For all your medical and dental supply requirements, please call us today on 1300 342 013 or contact us through our website.
