NEBDN NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN DENTAL NURSING

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE RECORD SHEET

Unit 1.3: Disinfection of Impressions

Student Dental Nurse Name: DT

Date of Activity: 20/03/2021
Range: Alginate
1. Impression to be disinfected
Guidance Notes:
 Students should describe the material used and the procedure for which the impression was taken
 Students should detail PPE worn, procedure followed including handling impression, disinfectant
used, labelling and packaging used
Patient male 18-years-old. Alginate impression for a sports guard,

Before the procedure Electronic Patient record card needs to be ready including:
Medical history:
Treatment planning form
The laboratory recording sheet

I am familiarised with these reports before handling Alginate Impressions:

 HTM 01-05 (decontamination in primary care dental practices) Disinfection of dental

impressions and prostheses work must be carried out correctly to prevent transmission of
blood-borne viruses to members of the dental team and technicians at the laboratory.   
 HTM 07-01 management and disposal of healthcare waste
 NHS website: BBV (blood borne viruses), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, AIDS
 NHS website: Pathogenic yeast Candida albicans
 COSSH (Control of Substance Hazardous to Health)

Before the procedure: I Washed hands using the hand washing instructions/techniques.
I made sure, when I came into the clinic that my hair is tied back and my nails were plain, short
and clean. I wore my PPE (i.e. tunic, trousers, black flat shoes before entering into the surgery).

Patient details: male NHS/Private mix surgery, patient 18, medical history form is up to date,
Patient attends for check-up regularly, once a year (every 6 months). Patient medical history was
rechecked to make sure that the patient was not taking any kind of medicines or have any kind of
allergic reaction (also latex allergy) which will affect the dental treatment.
The planned impressions for a sports guard procedure are confirmed with the dentist/clinician.
I put the treatment plan and consent form next to the computer.

I made sure I have got the consent from the patient as a trainee dental nurse to use the
information(s) for my RoE.

Dental Staff PPE: Protective gloves, mask, visor and tunic.

Patient PPE: Safety Glasses (Googles) and bib is ready for patient to use, face tissues, plastic cup
with water to rinse it
A dental impression is an accurate copy of the teeth and oral tissues.
It is made by placing an impression material within a dental impression tray and placed within a
patient mouth until set. This gives an imprint of a person's dentition and surrounding oral cavity.
The alginate impression should be disinfected according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This
will involve the use of specific cleaning materials noted in the CE-marking instructions.

Procedure. Alginate Impression Disinfection stages:

I rinsed the impression under running cold water to remove saliva, debris and blood traces

Immediately after removal from the patient’s mouth, I rinsed the alginate impression under the
tap with cold running water in order to remove saliva and blood debris. Variety of different tissues
in the mouth provide a complex environment for microorganisms to inhabit. 

I used a brush with soft bristles to remove all debris, blood traces. This process should continue
until the impression is visibly clean.

Bodily fluids such as saliva or blood may be left behind, these bodily fluids may also
contain viral or bacterial pathogens. These disease-causing microbes, blood borne viruses (BBV)
are referred to as pathogens. Pathogens usually display a variety of virulence factors that
can damage the host directly, trigger a destructive immune response or aid the microbe to survive
in the human body or the environment. Other organisms that can cause infection in the mouth
are opportunistic pathogens such as yeast fungus candida.

After the alginate impression taking procedure, I provided the patient with a damp tissue and a
mirror so that he could clean his face before leaving the surgery.

I have arranged the next appointment with the patient.

I placed the alginate impression into the transporting box (for impressions only). Transporting
box-labelled for alginate/elastomer impressions only and used for transporting impressions from
clinical area to disinfection room.

Decontamination room:

The disinfectant bath solution should be changed for every session (AM/PM) or sooner if it is
visibly dirty. I fully immersed the impression in the cold water disinfectant bath and set the timing
for 10 min (used my phone alarm).

I immersed the alginate impression in manufacturer’s recommended disinfectant

I fully immersed the alginate impression into a disinfectant bath solution 10% sodium
hypochlorite followed by the manufacturer’s instructions for 10 minutes following the
manufacturer’s instructions. I used a timer for recording precise time.
 I rinsed the alginate impression under running water again to remove chemical residues

After disinfection, the device should again be thoroughly washed to get rid of the chemicals/the
disinfectant solution.

I wrapped in a damp napkin (if necessary) and place in a plastic bag

Alginate impressions should be wrapped in damp tissue or gauze. This is to ensure that it does not
undergo any dimensional changes (if left immersed in water the impression expands and if
allowed to dry out it shrinks).
I wrapped the alginate impression with a damp tissue/gauze to ensure that alginate impression
will not shrink, (or opposite using too much water alginate material would absorb water and
expand) and placed it in a sealed air-tight plastic bag.

I labelled lab work as ‘disinfected’

In line with the COSHH regulations the responsibility for ensuring that impressions and appliances
have been cleaned and disinfected prior to sending to the laboratory lies solely with the dental
nurse.

All impressions should be accompanied by the appropriate paperwork

I have filled in the laboratory form with the following information:

Dental Practice’s name
Dentist’s Name
Patient’s ID, gender, date of birth
Date of procedure carried
Required work required
Date the lab work needed to be return
Disinfection confirmation on completion  
I also stated on the laboratory form that the impression has been disinfected

Alginate impressions must be stored at room temperature or below before transportation to the
laboratory.

2. Aim of disinfection procedure

Guidance Notes:
 Students should state the overall aim of the disinfection process
Aim of the disinfection process:

 Items which cannot be autoclaved are disinfected with chemicals which kill bacteria and
fungi but only some viruses and no spores.
 Decontamination is the process by which items are rendered safe for further use and for
staff to handle. Decontamination is required to minimise the risk of cross infection between
patients and between patients and staff.

3. Reflective Account
Guidance Notes:
Students should identify their strengths and weaknesses during the procedure and describe any action they
would take to address weaknesses in the future, if required.

4. Witness assessment
This Section should be completed by the GDC (or other) registrant who witnessed the activity of the student
and is assessing their competence. Constructive feedback will help the student to develop their performance
in the workplace
Not Yet
Criteria Competent
Competent
Alginate Impression
Student rinsed impression under running water ☐ ☐
Student immersed impression in disinfectant solution according to
☐ ☐
manufacturer’s instructions
Student rinsed impression to remove disinfectant solution ☐ ☐
Student wrapped impression in damp covering ☐ ☐
Student placed impression in sealed plastic bag ☐ ☐
Student labelled impression as disinfected ☐ ☐
Student attached laboratory instruction sheet to impression ☐ ☐
Elastomer Impression
Student rinsed impression under running water ☐ ☐
Student immersed impression in disinfectant solution according to
☐ ☐
manufacturer’s instructions
Student rinsed impression to remove disinfectant solution ☐ ☐
Student dried impression ☐ ☐
Student placed impression in sealed plastic bag ☐ ☐
Student labelled impression as disinfected ☐ ☐
Student attached laboratory instruction sheet to impression ☐ ☐
Professionalism
Student demonstrated professionalism throughout the procedure ☐ ☐
Student demonstrated effective team working throughout the
☐ ☐
procedure
Student demonstrated effective clinical decision making
☐ ☐
throughout the procedure
Student managed themselves and the clinical environment in line
☐ ☐
with current standards and guidelines:
5. Witness feedback

I confirm that the performance of the student demonstrated competence as indicated in the table
above.
Witness Name:
Date: Click here to enter a date.
GDC Number:
6. Tutor feedback
This section should be completed by the GDC registrant who is assessing all sections of the completed PER
and is normally based at the Training Centre. Constructive feedback will help the student to develop their
performance in the workplace.

Satisfactory ☐ Not Yet Satisfactory ☐

Tutor Name:
Date: Click here to enter a date.
GDC Number:

Internal Moderation
Internal Moderator Name:
Date Sampled: Click here to enter a date.
GDC Number:
Meets NEBDN Requirements: Yes ☐ No ☐