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Published on: May 19, 2019
Influence of microwave sterilization on the cutting capacity of carbide burs
Laiza Maria Grassi Fais1, Lígia Antunes Pereira Pinelli, Gelson Luis Adabo
1Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, SP, Brazil. laizamgfais@foar.unesp.br
Objective:
This study compared the cutting capacity of carbide burs sterilized with microwaves and traditional sterilization methods.
Material And Methods:
Sixty burs were divided into 5 groups according to the sterilization methods: dry heat (G1), autoclave (G2), microwave irradiation (G3), glutaraldehyde (G4) or control - no sterilization (G5). The burs were used to cut glass plates in a cutting machine set for twelve 2.5-min periods and, after each period, they were sterilized (except G5) following the protocol established for each group. The cutting capacity of the burs was determined by a weight-loss method. Data were analyzed statistically by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test.
Results:
The means of the cutting amount performed by each group after the 12 periods were G1 = 0.2167 +/- 0.0627 g; G2 = 0.2077 +/- 0.0231 g; G3 = 0.1980 +/- 0.0326 g; G4 = 0.1203 +/- 0.0459 g; G5 = 0.2642 +/- 0.0359 g. There were statistically significant differences among the groups (p<0.05); only dry heat sterilization was similar to the control.
Conclusion:
Sterilization by dry heat was the method that least affected the cutting capacity of the carbide burs and microwave sterilization was not better than traditional sterilization methods.
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