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Effectiveness of four sterilizing procedures on prophylaxis cups.
L B Forgas1, B J Durland, M G Duncanson
1Naval Dental Research Institute, Great Lakes, Illinois.
American Journal of Dentistry
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Dental prophylaxis cups, though single-use, are often re-used. Sterilization may be achieved, but cleaning fails to remove debris, questioning the safety of re-using disposable prophy cups.
Area of Science:
- Dental hygiene
- Infection control
- Materials science
Background:
- Disposable prophylaxis (prophy) cups are frequently reprocessed despite single-use manufacturing.
- Concerns exist regarding the efficacy of cleaning and sterilization procedures for re-used prophy cups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of routine sterilization methods on prophy cups.
- To determine if debris is completely removed after cleaning procedures.
- To assess the adequacy of disinfection with glutaraldehyde (GLU) immersion.
Main Methods:
- Three types of prophy cups (n=250 each) were contaminated with Bacillus stearothermophilus spores in pumice slurry.
- Cups underwent manual or ultrasonic cleaning, followed by sterilization via ETO, chemiclave, autoclave, or glutaraldehyde (GLU) immersion (6.75 hours).
- Control groups included non-sterilized cups and cups immersed in GLU for 10 minutes.
Main Results:
- All tested sterilization methods appeared to achieve sterilization.
- Glutaraldehyde (GLU) immersion for 10 minutes was insufficient for adequate disinfection.
- Photomicrographs revealed residual debris in prophy cups post-cleaning due to material porosity and design.
Conclusions:
- While standard sterilization methods may sterilize prophy cups, residual debris compromises reprocessing safety.
- The porosity and design of prophy cups hinder complete debris removal.
- Clinical judgment, cost-effectiveness, and time management support the single-use recommendation for prophy cups.