A: Important question, thank you for asking. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement on “Reprocessing Dental Handpieces.”* It stated that, “CDC recognizes that the dental community requires clear, consistent guidelines on the best way to reprocess dental handpiece devices between patient encounters.” For dental handpieces that are connected to air and waterlines, these instruments should be cleaned and heat sterilized after each patient use. However, with the introduction of cordless prophy handpieces, the CDC recommends that dental healthcare providers follow FDA-cleared manufacturer instructions for use and reprocessing (cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization).

It is important to note that some prophy handpiece systems received clearance prior to the 2015 FDA document on reprocessing medical devices in healthcare settings. Dental healthcare providers who have older handpieces must be aware that the FDA states, “reprocessing instructions for some older, legally-marketed, reusable devices may not be consistent with state-of-the-art science and therefore may not ensure that device is clean, disinfected, or sterile.” In these cases, the manufacturer is responsible for providing appropriate instructions for preparing the device for next patient use.