Effect of three sterilization techniques on finger pluggers

The effects of different sterilization methods on the fatigue life of finger pluggers were investigated. Ninety finger pluggers for each of four sizes (A, B, C, and D) were subdivided into subgroups of 10. Each subgroup was subjected to 1, 8, or 15 cycles of steam autoclave, dry heat, or bead sterilization. Ten control pluggers for each size were not sterilized. After sterilization, experimental and control finger pluggers were subjected to cyclic bending until fracture. Only the A finger pluggers autoclaved for eight cycles had a significantly lower number of cycles to failure compared with that of the controls. Nine subgroups had significantly greater number of cycles before failure than did the control. Because all but one sterilized group had fatigue lifetimes statistically equal to or greater than nonsterilized controls, clinicians generally can use any of the three sterilization methods without fear of plugger failure.