The Sterilization Ecosystem at MI Dental: Technology Working in Harmony

At MI Dental, infection prevention is not just a protocol, it is a promise. While most dental offices meet minimum sterilization standards, we have gone several steps further by building a fully integrated sterilization ecosystem. Our Lexa Autoclave, Hydrim Instrument Washer, 3M Attest Biological Indicator, and Steri-Traces system all communicate with each other, ensuring that every cycle is validated, documented and is traceable to the patient.

This is not just sterilization, it is sterilization with proof.

How the Ecosystem Works: Step-by-Step

1. Hydrim Instrument Washing & Drying

• Instruments are placed into cassettes, locked securely.
• The Hydrim uses rotating high-pressure heated water jets to clean all instrument surfaces thoroughly.
• After cleaning, it initiates a drying cycle, no manual towel-drying or handling.
• Cycle data (duration, temperature, etc.) is sent automatically to SteriTraces for logging.

2. Lexa Autoclave Sterilization

• Clean instruments move into the W&H Lexa autoclave, which performs steam sterilization under controlled conditions.
• Lexa is equipped with vacuum-assisted drying and precise cycle control.
• The autoclave’s cycle parameters are automatically communicated to SteriTraces for logging and validation.

3. 3M Attest Biological Indicator System

• Daily, we run a biological indicator test using spores — the gold standard for verifying sterilization.
• With the 3M Attest Mini Auto-reader 490M, results are known in 24 minutes (faster than conventional systems) solventum.com.
• It supports “Any Well” technology (you can place any compatible BI in any well) and connects to a PC/USB for electronic documentation. solventum.com
• The 3M Attest result is fed into SteriTraces, confirming biological sterilization success.

4. SteriTraces Digital Traceability & Compliance

• SteriTraces receives synchronized data from all three devices (Hydrim, Lexa, Attest).
• If all parameters (physical, chemical, and biological) pass, SteriTraces issues a sterilizer-safe thermal label with a QR/data-matrix code.
• That label is affixed to each pouch or cassette.
• In front of you, we open those packages and scan the QR code directly into your patient chart with date/time — linking that instrument set uniquely to you.
• All cycle data, tests, and scans are stored digitally and backed up, ready for audit or review.

Patient Transparency

When you sit down in our chair, you will see your instruments opened fresh in front of you. Each pack carries its Steri-Traces QR label, proof that it has passed every sterilization checkpoint. That label is then scanned into your digital chart with the date and time, creating a permanent record that those instruments were used only for you.

It is sterilization you can see, trust and verify.

Why This Ecosystem Matters

• Zero Compromise: If a cycle fails, instruments never make it to patients.
• Digital Documentation: No manual logbooks, all records are stored, auditable and cloud-backed.
• Compliance Excellence: Meets or exceeds RCDSO, CDC, and MOH standards.
• Patient Trust: Instruments are opened and scanned in your presence, linking safety directly to your care.
• Validated Assurance: No guesswork, every load is verified via physical, chemical and biological metrics.
• Full Traceability & Audit-Readiness: If ever needed, we can trace any instrument back to a sterilization cycle and patient.
• Efficiency: With the 21-minute BI validation, we don’t just meet safety standards, we keep the office running smoothly without waiting.

Fun Fact

What takes most offices 24 hours to confirm, our 3M Attest system confirms in just 21 minutes. That is not just technology, that is peace of mind on fast-forward.

SteriTraces automates up to 80% of what would traditionally be manual sterilization record-keeping work, drastically reducing human error and freeing staff for better patient care.

Your safety is our highest priority. By investing in this sterilization ecosystem, MI Dental ensures that every instrument used in your care is proven safe, traceable and digitally documented.

FAQs

1. What makes MI Dental’s sterilization different?
Our system is fully digital, connected and validated, far beyond traditional manual logbooks.

1. Why do you need all four devices, is one not enough?
Each device covers a different step (wash, sterilize, validate, trace). Together, they form a full safety net so nothing is left to chance.

2. How do I know instruments are sterilized for me?
We open the packs in front of you, with Steri-Traces QR labels scanned directly into your chart.

3. Why is the 3M Attest system important?
It confirms our sterilizers kill the toughest bacterial spores in just 21 minutes, ensuring patient safety daily.

3. What happens if something goes wrong?
If any cycle fails (Hydrim, Lexa, or BI), SteriTraces prevents that load from being used and flags it.

4. Do all dental clinics use this level of sterilization?
Not necessarily. MI Dental has invested in a complete ecosystem that integrates multiple advanced systems for maximum assurance.

4. Doesn’t this cost a lot?
Yes, it is a major investment. But we view it not as a cost but as a promise. It raises our standard, ensures compliance and gives patients confidence they’re protected.

At MI Dental, Dentist Kitchener when you walk through our door, you’re not just getting care, you are getting proof of safety. Our sterilization ecosystem is a promise: every instrument is cleaned, sterilized, recorded and traceable to you.