1. Switch on the electrical supply to the compressor and suction unit (in staff room).

2. Put on your clinical footwear before you go into the surgery.

3. Switch on surgery lights.

4. Open blinds on windows.

5. Switch on the air conditioning.  If it is already on due to timer operation, switch it off and back on again to reset to normal operation.

6. Switch on the surgery electricity supply at the consumer unit in the surgery (push the three breakers on the right into the “on” position).

7. Switch on surgery music system.

8. Ensure that the dentist’s patient list for today has been placed next to the computer*.

9. Check the appointment book for any treatment that involves the fitting of laboratory made items.  Check to ensure that these have been received and are ready for fitting.  If not, inform the dentist and the receptionist.  Make certain action is taken to ensure either that the work will be received in time or, if this is not possible, that the patient’s appointment is rescheduled giving the maximum possible notice*.

10. Lower patient’s chair to exit position.

11. PUT ON A PAIR OF FRESH EXAMINATION GLOVES.

12. Wipe down the protective Perspex cover, the surround, the on/off switch and both handles on the operating light.

13. Wipe down the entire “over the patient” delivery unit.  Wipe down the outlets on the delivery unit (both the leads and the couplings on the end of them).  Wipe down the handles on either side of the delivery system and the dentist’s tray and tray holder.  Wipe down the arm supporting the aspirator and saliva ejector tubes, together with the nozzles on the end of each tube.

14. Wipe down the patient’s chair and head rest.

15. Flush and wipe out the cuspidor.

16. Wipe down all work surfaces and the capsule mixer.

17. Place a paper liner on the tray attached to the “over the patient arm”.  Lay out a mirror and probe on this.

18. Set up clean triple spray tip, ultrasonic insert, electric motor hand piece, air turbine hand piece, aspirator, saliva ejector and disposable cup for patient mouth rinse.  Run the hand pieces into the sink for 2 minutes (with the water spray switched on).  Run the water supply to the spittoon for 2 minutes before making up the mouth rinse.

19. Check that the autoclave is filled with water.

20. Fill the ultrasonic bath to the ¾ full level with detergent solution.  Run the ultrasonic bath empty for 2 minutes to de-gas the solution.

21. Make up bleach solution for disinfecting prosthodontic appliances and impressions.

22. Return the operators’ stools to their working positions.

23. Remove and discard the gloves you wore while cleaning the surgery during the set-up procedure.

24. Lay out protective eye wear, masks and gloves on the work surface (for both yourself and the dentist).

25. Lay out protective eye wear on the work surface (for the patients).

26. Check the dentist’s patient list for the day to see what procedure you will carry out on the first patient of the day.  Set the surgery up for this procedure.

* these matters should have been attended to at the end of the previous session, but check again.

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