Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Piezo High Accuracy Surgical Osteal Removal (PHASOR): A Technique for Improved Cranial Window Surgery in Mice
Published on: March 2, 2018
Cross-infection risks associated with high-speed dental handpieces
1Department of Oral Pathology, Oral and Dental Teaching Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg.
Abstract:
The effect of external chemical disinfection and flushing the water lines of dental handpieces with water, on bacterial contamination of these handpieces, was investigated. External chemical wiping reduced the numbers of viable organisms present on the external surfaces of handpieces, but did not eliminate them completely. Micro-organisms were still present on the internal surfaces after flushing the handpieces with water for a period of five minutes. Sterilisation and/or disinfection of both the internal and external surfaces of handpieces are essential to minimise the risk of cross-infection from this source in the dental surgery.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...

