Quality, hygiene and working environment in the laboratory
Precision, hygiene considerations, and safety in working with materials and machines
Your work ends up in a patient's mouth, so quality and safety are not negotiable. At the same time, you work with machines, dust and chemicals that can be dangerous if not handled correctly. A good laboratory is both precise and safe.
§Precision as a quality requirement
A tooth replacement must fit very precisely. If a crown does not sit tight there can be gaps where bacteria collect and the patient can have problems. Therefore you check your work against the model and against opposing teeth measure fit and bite and adjust until it sits as it should. Precision is the heart of the trade and quality control is a fixed part of every job.
§Infection control considerations and hygiene
Impressions and models coming from the clinic can be contaminated with saliva and bacteria, and therefore must be handled with hygiene in mind and cleaned according to guidelines before you proceed. Similarly, the finished work must be clean before it is sent back. Good hand hygiene, clean work surfaces and separation of clean and contaminated are a natural part of the work.
§Dust and extraction
When you sand and mill ceramic metal and plastic fine dust forms that you shouldn't inhale. So you work at extraction and use respiratory protection where necessary. Point extraction at grinding locations removes dust at source. Protecting your lungs is something that pays off over an entire working life.
- 01Always work with extraction when grinding and milling.
- 02Use respiratory protection where recommended.
- 03Keep the workplace free of dust.
- 04Empty and maintain extraction and filters.
§Chemistry and heat
On the laboratory, you handle chemicals and work with ovens and melting equipment at high temperatures. Read the safety data sheets for the products you use, store chemicals correctly, and use gloves and eye protection where necessary. When working with heat and molten metal, you must protect yourself against burns and be in control of what you are doing.
§Machine safety
Cutters, grinding machines and other rotating equipment can cause serious injury. Use guards, keep long hair and loose clothing away from rotating parts, and use eye protection against flying particles. Turn off and secure machines before adjusting or cleaning them. The machines are your friends as long as you respect them.
§Documentation and traceability
Quality also deals with documentation. It must be traceable which materials were used in a restoration, and the work must follow the dentist's order. Good documentation makes it possible to find errors, learn from them and stand by what you deliver. It is part of being a professional craftsperson.