The sporicidal activity of glass bead sterilizers

Endodontic glass bead sterilizers were evaluated for sporicidal effectiveness. Small metal endodontic instruments contaminated with Bacillus subtilis spores were effectively sterilized when the instruments were exposed for 15 seconds at a temperature of 218 C. Nonmetal objects such as cotton pellets and paper points could not be sterilized because they charred and decomposed under the required temperature conditions.