Detergent vs Disinfectant – What’s the Difference?

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Detergent vs Disinfectant – What’s the Difference?

Among the most important dental supplies in Sydney and throughout Australia are those used for cleaning and disinfecting. Maintaining a clean, hygienic clinical environment is essential to infection control, and this is just as true for a dental clinic as it is in a hospital setting.

Mitigating the risk of pathogen transfer between patients, and between patients and staff, from instruments, equipment, and surfaces is imperative to avoiding infections associated with dental care - or any other kind of healthcare, for that matter. Dentistry, in particular, involves invasive procedures in which body fluids and tissues (saliva, blood, oral tissue) are at high risk of spatter. This means decontamination is essential to protect against infectious diseases, novel pathogens, and multi-drug resistant organisms.

There are specific products used for human-based infection control and instrument sterilization. But what about surface cleaning and disinfection?

 

Detergent versus Disinfectant

  • Cleaning detergent removes contaminants from surfaces.
  • Disinfectant inactivates pathogens.

Within your dental clinic or other healthcare or laboratory-based practice, the decision between using a cleaning agent or a disinfectant depends on several factors, and while some may suppose that disinfection in all cases is warranted, this is not the case.

Everyday cleaning calls for a neutral detergent. This is suitable for removing dirt, grime, and the contaminants that may harbour pathogens (e.g. dust). When regular and comprehensive cleaning is done to remove dust and dirt, the potential for bacterial and viral buildup on surfaces and the formation of biofilm will be minimized.

It’s important to understand that detergent solutions can become contaminated by pathogens – and if this happens, the detergent itself may spread these as opposed to removing them. One solution to this is to use disposable, single-use pre-moistened cleaning wipes in preference to bulk detergent solutions.

In terms of sustainability, using a neutral detergent is preferable to using chemical disinfectants, which can be toxic to the environment and may cause sensitivity in some humans.

Chemical disinfectants are indicated when there are high levels of, or potential for, contamination. These work by more greatly reducing the bacterial load than detergents do, but they require a clean surface free of organic dust and dirt to be effective.

In other words, before using a disinfectant, a neutral detergent must be used to pre-clean surfaces. Disinfectant is then indicated when decontamination is required – e.g. after patients who are known to carry a bloodborne pathogen or a pathogen such as norovirus, multi-drug resistant organisms, or C difficile; during an outbreak (such as COVID-19); or at the end of the workday (as disinfectants need a minimum contact time to work effectively).

Adam Dental Supplies

Adam Dental Supplies has a large catalogue of all of the cleaning and disinfecting products you require, from the brands you prefer, to maintain cleanliness and a sterile clinical environment.

These include:

  • Detergent and Disinfectant Solutions – surface cleaning, instrument cleaning, suction, waterline, orange solvent and tray cleaner.

 

  • Wipes – dry, neutral, alcohol, and disinfectant.

 

  • Disinfectant Powder & Tablets – including Blu Tabs, Anti-Rust products, Milton Tablets, Fittydent Cleansing Tablets, and more.

 

  • Cleaning Accessories

Browse our entire range and shop online with us today for the best products from the brands you trust, competitive prices, outstanding customer service, and fast delivery Australia wide.