The few minutes between two patients are among the busiest in a dental surgery: the instrument tray is swapped, the unit is prepared and the next patient sits down. If the order of these steps is not written down, it varies from person to person. This article sets out a dental surgery changeover checklist focused on tray covers, patient bibs and surface barriers. It does not replace your practice’s infection control protocol; it is a framework to organise your routine and plan consumables.
What are clinical contact surfaces?
In its summary of infection prevention practices in dental settings, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes clinical contact surfaces as those at high risk of direct contamination from spray, spatter or gloved hands — for example light handles, bracket trays, dental unit switches and computer equipment — and says cleaning and disinfection should focus on them (CDC, Best Practices for Environmental Infection Prevention and Control).
A typical list per unit:
- Instrument / bracket tray
- Light handle and switches
- Unit control panel and chair switches
- Air-water syringe and suction handles
- Keyboard, mouse and touchscreen
Two approaches: barriers, or cleaning and disinfection
The same CDC source gives two options for clinical contact surfaces: cover them with barriers and change the barriers between patients, or clean and then disinfect the surface after each patient. It notes that barriers are especially useful for surfaces that are difficult to clean, such as switches and computer equipment. Most practices combine both: smooth, easy-to-wipe surfaces are disinfected; textured or electronic surfaces are covered. Write down which method applies to which surface.
Which barrier for which surface?
- Instrument tray: a dental tray cover. RENASAN tray covers have an absorbent cellulose paper top and an HDPE film barrier underneath, supplied on rolls or as cut sheets in seven sizes from 20×30 cm to 50×50 cm. Choose your size with our guide to tray cover roll dimensions and coverage area.
- Patient: a dental patient bib, in 33×45, 50×60 and 55×60 cm, on rolls or in packs. Why absorbency and fluid barrier should be assessed separately is covered in dental bib absorbency and fluid barrier.
- Light handle, switches, keyboard: usually covered with clear plastic film or sleeves. Make sure the barrier covers the whole surface and stays in place during treatment.
Changeover sequence, step by step
This is a general example; adapt it to the procedure approved by your infection control lead.
- After the patient leaves, remove the used bib and discard it.
- Remove soiled barriers — tray cover, light handle and switch covers — folding them inward without touching the surface beneath.
- Inspect the surfaces: if a barrier is torn or the surface underneath is visibly soiled, clean and disinfect it according to your protocol.
- Clean and disinfect uncovered surfaces, observing the contact time on the disinfectant label.
- Change gloves and perform hand hygiene.
- Place new barriers: tray cover with the absorbent side up, then switch and handle covers.
- Put a new bib on the next patient and set up the instrument tray.
Planning consumables per unit
Each patient uses at least one tray cover and one bib. Example (illustrative): a practice with 3 units seeing 12 patients per unit per day, open 22 days a month, needs 3 × 12 × 22 = 792 tray covers and 792 bibs per month. Long procedures or multiple trays increase this; add an allowance. With 80-bib rolls this is roughly 10 rolls a month.
Printable checklist
- ☐ Bib removed and discarded
- ☐ Tray cover and sleeves removed
- ☐ Surfaces under barriers inspected
- ☐ Uncovered surfaces cleaned and disinfected
- ☐ Gloves changed, hand hygiene done
- ☐ New tray cover placed
- ☐ Switch / light handle covers fitted
- ☐ New bib on patient
- ☐ Tray cover and bib stock at the unit sufficient
Frequently asked questions
Should the tray cover be changed for every patient?
The CDC recommends changing barriers between patients. Tray covers are single-use and a new one is placed for each patient.
Does a surface under a barrier still need disinfecting?
The CDC describes barriers and cleaning-disinfection as two alternative approaches. If a barrier is torn or the surface beneath is soiled, it must be cleaned and disinfected; follow your practice’s infection control procedure for details.
Which tray cover size should I order?
Measure the inside of your tray and pick the nearest standard size; we compare all seven sizes in this guide.
Request a quote for tray covers and bibs
RENASAN has manufactured dental tray covers and patient bibs in its own facility since 1967. See the options on our product pages and send your monthly volumes via our contact page.