The organization of dental equipments is important for oral-health professionals; because it majorly impacts productivity during dental practices. If the sterilization areas and treatment rooms lack proper organization; the overall workflow is compromised. For instance, leaving the treatment area to find a tool between an ongoing procedure creates problems for both you and your patients. Moreover, the absence of inventory management leads you to excess clutter and your schedules begin to fall behind.
The Color Method is an effective way of dealing with the above problems. Color-coded storage solutions are specially developed for dental experts and practitioners; keeping their problems and requirements in mind. They ease up dental procedures by including color elements into the instruments like dental luxator, and material organization. So, let’s check out what is color method; and why it should be included in dental practices.
Advantages Of Color Method In Dental Practices
What is a Color Method?
The color method is the process that involves assigning unique colors for different dental instruments, and accordingly managing various dental procedures. After implementing the color method, teams can use cassettes, corresponding trays, tubs, etc. to organize the instruments and materials. Color Method helps you create simple and streamlined processes that lead to an organized workspace. As a result, you can focus more on the patients, and your work efficiency increases.
How To Implement Color Method?
Assigning The Colors
The initial step is to assign a unique color to the instruments, for every procedure. However, there is no hard and fast rule for assigning the colors. You can select them according to your preferences. After color-coding, it is easier to identify and organize different materials and instruments like a dental luxator, elevator, and many more.
Instrument Management
A good practice is to use an instrument cassette with a matching holder for procedures. After placing the necessary instruments like dental rongeurs in the cassettes, you get rid of the problem of missing equipment during the procedure. In addition, you can sterilize and arrange the instruments together on the cassette. So, you can avoid working with the loose and dirty ones. In this way, you eliminate the risks of injury and infection.
Managing The Materials
Material management becomes easy with the procedure tubs. You can store different dental equipment, hence, saving money and time. On the contrary, when you store the accessories in drawers; items get pushed back and eventually get lost. So, it is difficult to deal with them and manage the inventory.
By the implementation of the color method, a matching tub for every procedure acts as a portable drawer. So, the instruments are easier to find and manage. Furthermore, restocking the instruments also becomes easy; because you can clearly see through the tubs which instruments you are falling short of.
Sterilization Area Management
The sterilization area acts as a central space to store all the procedure trays and tubs. Hence, you can store a large amount of procedure-specific instruments in this area. They come in handy for inventory control and effective restocking of procedure tubs. A good practice is to remove the disposable items from the sterilization area like masks, cotton rolls, napkins, gloves, etc. In this way, you get enough space for color-coded procedure tubs and instrument set-ups.
Managing The Treatment Room
You must properly store the disposable items in the treatment room. A good practice is to keep the essential items in drawers within arm?s reach like cotton rolls, extra gauze, dry angles, etc. This way you can easily access all the instruments as per the requirement. Moreover, keep additional equipment in a single pouch nearby. If you drop any items during the procedure, you can get another one. It saves time and effort because you don?t have to go to another room and find a replacement.
Other Benefits of Implementing Color Method
Cost-Saving
Color-Coded Cassettes ensure a long life for the dental instruments. Thus, you save money as there is no need to replace the equipment before the expiry date. In addition, they come with antimicrobial properties that keep the instruments clean, and free from unwanted microorganisms.
Prevention From Infection
Colored cassettes help prevent the staff from various diseases and infections because they deal with instruments free from any type of contamination. Additionally, you can easily see the instruments easily with clear locking trays. Moreover, you remain compliant with guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Increase In Efficiency
With the color method, you can organize the instruments in a single unit during various steps like procedure, sterilization, and storage. Therefore, you ensure that no dental extraction tools are misplaced. Also, you get all the necessary items for a procedure, in a single place.
Enhances Patient?s Experience
When the workspace where you perform different procedures is clean and organized; the patients feel more comfortable visiting you for treatment. Thus, you ensure a good experience for the patients by implementing the color method.
Conclusion
By using the color method, you can ensure the seamless functioning of various dental procedures. Because, the color-coded dental extraction tools are cost-efficient, easy to manage; and reduce the chances of infection. For this reason, you should implement these methods in various tools like dental rongeurs, elevators, forceps, etc. You can follow the above practices to properly implement them in dental practices, and ensure a good experience for both you and the patients.
