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Results for “DENTAL INSTRUMENTS”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cross-infection in the dental profession. Dental instruments sterilization: assessment. 1.

In dentistry, and as a part of the health profession, cross-infection is a professional hazard. The infection can be transmitted by instruments, dental personnel or by patients. Dental instrument sterilization is a vital procedure to reduce the chance of cross-infection in the dental profession. Part I of this study is to assess the dental instruments sterilization at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Random samples were taken from the CSSD for this purpose. No bacterial growth was detected.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1995

Characteristics of blood-containing aerosols generated by common powered dental instruments.

Powered dental instruments applied to whole-blood in a typodont field of operation generated aerosols of red blood cell and hemoglobin-tinged plasma at rates ranging from 0.003 to 2.2 microL of plasma per minute with particle sizes ranging from 0.06 to 13 microns and half-lives of 35 minutes to 17 hours. Particles 0.06 to 0.38 microns were plasma spheroids that contained no detectable hemoglobin or red blood cell fragments. Particles 0.66 to 13 microns were mostly plasma spheroids, only a small fraction of which contained whole and fragmented red blood cells. All the recovered particles physically could contain the 0.042 microns hepatitis B virus, could be inhaled, and 20 to 100% of them could be retained in the human respiratory system. Of 0.06 to 2.5 microns plasma aerosol particles, 15-83% passed through the filter media of nine makes of surgical masks used by dentists for protection from occupational infection. These findings lend support to the hypothesis of an airborne route for the hepatitis B infections reported for dental professionals.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2002

Contaminated dental instruments.

There is current concern in the UK over the possible transmission of prions via contaminated surgical instruments. Some dental instruments (endodontic files) raise particular concerns by virtue of their intimate contact with terminal branches of the trigeminal nerve. A visual assessment using a dissecting light microscope and scanning electron microscopy of endodontic files after clinical use and subsequent decontamination was performed. The instruments examined were collected from general dental practices and from a dental hospital. Seventy-six per cent (22/29) of the files retrieved from general dental practices remained visibly contaminated, compared with 14% (5/37) from the dental hospital. Current methods for decontaminating endodontic instruments used in dentistry may be of an insufficient standard to completely remove biological material. Improved cleaning methods and the feasibility of single use endodontic instruments require further investigation.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of three lasers for dental instrument sterilization.

The sterilization of dental instruments is an area of great interest and recent concern in the field of dentistry. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of three lasers (argon, CO2, and NdYAG) to sterilize dental instruments. Endodontic reamers were contaminated with microorganisms, lased at various levels of energy, placed in Trypticase soy broth, incubated, and read for growth or no growth to determine sterility. Results indicated that the argon laser is capable of sterilizing selected dental instruments at the lowest energy level (1 watt for 120 seconds) of the three lasers tested. The other two lasers were able to sterilize the instruments also, but at higher energy levels. Results indicated all three lasers capable of sterilizing selected dental instruments; however, the argon laser was able to do so consistently at the lowest energy level of 1 watt for 120 seconds.

Argon↗
PubMed1995

Effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning of dental instruments.

PURPOSE: To quantitate blood contamination present on dental instruments used for routine prophylaxis and to assess the effectiveness of ultrasonic decontamination in reducing blood and virus contamination on dental instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human blood contamination present on dental instruments obtained after routine prophylaxis was analyzed using IgG as a blood marker. RESULTS: The estimated contaminating blood volume was found to normally range between 1.4 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-4) ml. Attempts to saturate the instruments with blood contamination suggested that the maximum possible retained blood volume was about 10-fold higher than the normal levels of contamination. Hand scrubbing of contaminated instruments was both relatively ineffective and inconsistent in removing blood contamination. Decontamination in an ultrasonic cleaner was more effective than hand washing, resulting in greater than a 100-fold reduction of blood contamination. Using a mouse model virus (lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus, LDV), high levels of virus contamination of dental instruments and dental handpieces were achieved, as determined by assay of residual virus. Ultrasonic treatment reduced the level of virus contamination present on dental instruments by one million-fold, and virus contamination present in dental handpieces was reduced by one thousand-fold. These results provide quantitative estimations of the infection threat and its reduction by ultrasonication, posed by human-exposed dental instruments.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Dental instrument and device sterilization and disinfection practices.

Dental instruments and devices require sterilization or high-level disinfection. An evaluation of the implementation of such processes was undertaken. Eleven thousand questionnaires on methods used to sterilize and disinfect dental instruments were sent to dental practices and 1391 (13%) were returned for evaluation. Sixty-eight percent of respondents believed they were sterilizing their instruments, however, some of the liquid chemical products used were not suitable for sterilizing instruments, and 12% of respondents used incorrect contact times. Forty-nine percent of respondents did not challenge autoclaves with biological spores to check their function at an acceptable frequency. There were similar product and timing problems when a high-level liquid chemical disinfection was attempted. Although the return sample was small, problems were identified that can and should be corrected. This study demonstrates that the potential for person-to-person transmission of infectious agents such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C viruses via inadequately sterilized dental instrument exists depending on the prevalence of HIV in the dental practice area.

Dental Equipment↗
PubMed1994

Sterilization of dental instruments and devices: an update.

Dental sterilization techniques have become a focus of attention as a result of disclosure of occupational HIV transmission from an infected dentist to a cluster of patients. Although there has never been a confirmed report of a patient acquiring an infectious blood-borne disease from a dental instrument or device, recommendations for universal sterilization of dental handpieces and other devices have recently been implemented. Because of the higher rate of hepatitis B virus transmissability in the dental health care environment, an upgrade in sterilization protocols may be warranted. Stringent sterilization standards are especially necessary in higher-risk institutional dental care settings. However, a high rate of dental sterilization errors has been reported and traced to operator error. Recent institutional dental sterilization policy changes have been developed to reduce the chance of sterilization error, further diminishing the risk of cross contamination.

Dental Equipment↗
PubMed2000

Cleaning dental instruments: measuring the effectiveness of an instrument washer/disinfector.

PURPOSE: To analyze the cleaning effectiveness of one type of instrument washer available for use in a dental office. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental instruments were heavily contaminated with blood and specific test bacteria. They were placed in cleaning baskets or within instrument cassettes, processed through the instrument washer, and analyzed for remaining blood and viable bacteria. RESULTS: Information obtained indicated that the washer is an effective cleaning system for dental instruments.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1992

Use of dental instruments for bridging during electric pulp testing.

It has been suggested that dental instruments can be used as bridging instruments to facilitate electric pulp testing of teeth with extensive restorations. This study reports a clinical investigation to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure. One hundred seventeen vital teeth in 20 volunteers were tested. Ten endodontically treated teeth functioned as controls. Following appropriate isolation and asepsis technique, baseline recordings of the threshold response with the electric pulp tester were taken. With the use of dental explorers and endodontic files to bridge between the probe tip and the tooth surface, recordings were made of the threshold responses. Findings indicate that electrically conductive dental instruments can be reliably used as bridging instruments with the electric pulp tester.

Dental Instruments↗
PubMed1997

Application of automated thermal disinfection instead of sterilisation procedures for treatment of rotating dental instruments: efficacy against viruses?

In dentistry it is of primary importance to take into consideration microbial transfer due to the nature of the construction of rotating dental instruments. This aspect was the starting point for our research with the question whether or not sterilisation is fundamentally necessary for slow and high speed hand pieces to make them "safe" out of a virological point of view, or whether a thermal disinfection could also possibly be adequate for this purpose. In this context, we tested the efficiency of the cleaning and disinfection capacity of an automated steam disinfection and sterilisation unit (Sirona Hygiene Center, Siemens, AG, Bensheim) intended to the hygienic treatment of dental instruments with respect to viruses. In model tests the corresponding instruments were experimentally infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) and simian vacuoling virus (SV40). As indicator systems we used for both cell cultures (measurement of the degree of infectiosity) and (for HSV) polymerase chain reactions (PCR; determination of viral nucleic acids). In the tests for (residual) infectiosity after thermal disinfection (as an isolated step of the Hygienic Centre) and also for a combination of cleaning and subsequent thermal disinfection (also after protein application), no infectious virus could be found in the interior of the slow handpieces and turbines tested. In opposite to this, infectious HSV and SV40 could be found after completion of every isolated cleaning program in the turbine (in all three ducts) and in the slow handpiece (only in the gearbox duct in the case of HSV, and in the case of SV40 also in the water and air ducts in very small amounts). The PCR analyses showed that no nucleic acids could be found in both instruments (in the air and water ducts) following a practice-relevant combination of cleaning and disinfection, but that PCR-positive signals were obtained for the larger-volume gearbox and drive and return air ducts in 1 or 2 of 3 test samples. The detection of viral nucleic acid proves that it is not a matter of complete removal of the infectious agents from the instruments, but rather that they are simply inactivated. Since the test samples did not show similar amounts of viral nucleic acid, it demonstrates the strong influence of the basic parameters (efficiency of the virus contamination, flushing conditions and the like). Our experimental model demonstrate that thermal disinfection may be adequate to prevent virus contamination of rotating dental instruments, while compulsory sterilisation is not mandatory. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate whether the present data are applicable for rotating dental instruments from other manufactures.

Automation↗
PubMed2001

[The sharpening and polishing of dental instruments].

This article describes the maintenance of dental instruments in a companion animal practice, in particular the correct sharpening techniques for tartar scrapers, curettes, excavators, and elevators. Sharp instruments are essential for the quality and speed of dental care.

Animals↗