Daily closing procedures for the clinical team to shut down equipment, complete sterilization, and prepare operatories for the next day.
Add it to Practice Flow and it becomes yours to edit, assign and schedule. It will start generating on its cadence, so the work comes back on its own.
Add this checklist Browse moreRun evacuation line cleaner through HVE and saliva ejector lines on every unit.
Evacuation lines accumulate debris, biofilm, and bacteria daily. Flushing prevents clogging, reduces odors, and extends vacuum pump life. Neglected lines harbor dangerous bacteria and eventually fail - shutting down operatories.
1. Prepare line cleaner per manufacturer instructions. 2. Aspirate solution through HVE at each unit. 3. Repeat with saliva ejector. 4. Follow with clean water rinse. 5. Repeat for every operatory.
Process last instruments and drain, clean, and turn off the ultrasonic cleaner.
Contaminated instruments left overnight violate infection control and become harder to clean as bioburden dries. Ultrasonic solution must be drained daily per CDC requirements since it becomes contaminated and ineffective.
1. Complete reprocessing on remaining instruments. 2. Load and start final autoclave cycle. 3. Drain ultrasonic cleaner. 4. Rinse and wipe the tank. 5. Leave lid slightly open to air dry. 6. Store sterile packages when autoclave finishes.
Thorough end-of-day disinfection going beyond between-patient turnover.
End-of-day cleaning covers surfaces that accumulate aerosol and dust throughout the day: cabinet exteriors, equipment bases, floors, and sinks. A clean operatory enables faster morning setup.
1. Disinfect all clinical contact surfaces. 2. Also wipe cabinet doors, unit exterior, chair base, monitors, sink. 3. Clean cuspidor. 4. Wipe floor around chair. 5. Empty trash and replace liner.
Replenish consumable supplies in each operatory against par levels.
Restocking at closing saves valuable morning time and ensures first patients can be treated without the assistant leaving the room for supplies.
1. Walk through with a supply cart. 2. Restock all consumables against par level list. 3. Note supply closet items at reorder level. 4. Wipe down supply cart.
Power down dental chairs, delivery units, curing lights, and digital sensors.
Equipment left on overnight wastes electricity, generates heat, and accelerates wear. Chairs left raised develop hydraulic leaks. Proper shutdown extends equipment life.
1. Lower each chair and turn off main power. 2. Turn off operatory lights. 3. Power off and dock curing lights. 4. Turn off X-ray sensors and docking stations. 5. Store handpieces properly.
Shut off main valves on all gas tanks to prevent overnight leaks.
An overnight gas leak wastes expensive gas and creates safety hazards. A leaking nitrous tank can empty by morning, costing hundreds of dollars. Gas accumulation in enclosed spaces poses health risks.
1. Close each O2 tank valve clockwise until snug. 2. Close each N2O tank valve. 3. Open a flowmeter briefly to bleed line pressure. 4. Close flowmeter. 5. Verify gauges drop to zero.
Shut down central water, vacuum, and air compressor.
Master water off prevents overnight leak damage. Shutting down vacuum and compressor extends motor life and saves energy. Draining compressor moisture prevents tank corrosion.
1. Turn off master water valve. 2. Turn off vacuum pump. 3. Turn off compressor and open drain valve. 4. Close drain after moisture drains. 5. Listen for unusual sounds.
Verify or initiate daily backup of practice management data and imaging.
Data loss from hardware failure or ransomware is catastrophic. Patient records and X-rays represent years of irreplaceable information. HIPAA requires backup contingency planning. Daily backups limit loss to 24 hours maximum.
1. Verify automated backup completed or initiate manual. 2. Confirm backup includes database, imaging, and documents. 3. Swap rotating drives if applicable. 4. Store backup securely. 5. Confirm cloud sync if used.
Check all sharps containers and replace any at or above three-quarter fill.
OSHA requires replacement at 3/4 full. Overfilled sharps containers are the primary cause of needlestick injuries from disposal. A contaminated needlestick can transmit HBV, HCV, or HIV.
1. Check each sharps container. 2. If at 3/4 mark, close and lock the container. 3. Place in regulated waste storage. 4. Install a new container. 5. Never reach into or compress sharps containers.
Handle and store biohazard waste bags per OSHA and EPA protocol.
Improper disposal results in OSHA citations (up to $16,131 per violation), EPA fines, and community health risks. Regulated waste poses immediate risk to anyone handling regular trash.
1. Collect red biohazard bags from each operatory. 2. Do not compress. 3. Tie securely and place in designated container. 4. Verify pickup is scheduled. 5. Log waste on tracking manifest.
Final walkthrough of every operatory to confirm readiness.
A final check catches anything missed during closing. Clean, organized operatories in the morning set a positive team tone and speed up opening procedures.
1. Walk through each operatory. 2. Verify surfaces clean, trash emptied, supplies stocked, equipment off, chairs lowered. 3. Check floors. 4. Secure patient belongings left behind. 5. Turn off lights.
Secure drug cabinet and verify controlled substance counts match the log.
Controlled substances are DEA-regulated. The log must be accurate at all times. Discrepancies may indicate diversion and must be reported. Failure to secure controlled substances can result in DEA sanctions.
1. Count all controlled substances against log entries. 2. Counts must match exactly. 3. Initial and date the log. 4. Lock the drug cabinet. 5. Report any discrepancy immediately. 6. Store the key in its designated location.