Our practice takes stringent measures to minimize the risk of infection. There is no carpeting on the floor to trap bacteria and rooms are sterilized regularly. Any instrument used in a patient's mouth is either disposable or designed to withstand heat sterilization after use. Even the switches, buttons and levers of our lights and equipment are covered with sterile plastic barriers Instruments to be sterilized are first placed in a cassette, covered with wrapping and transferred to an autoclave for heat sterilization. The cassette remains sealed until immediately before instruments are used. The wrapping serves as a sterile field on which to place instruments during procedures.