Carbide burs sterilization in microwave oven: effect of immersion medium

• Grant number: 05/04618-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2006
• End date: November 30, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena Barbosa Tavares da Silva
• Grantee: Sandra Gouveia Spinola
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The knowledge and use of efficient disinfection or sterilization methods for the control of the cross infection in dentistry are imperative to diminish the possibility of contamination between patients, professional and its team. The burs are constantly used and can be considered as potential risk for crossed infections, must be submitted to the sterilization process, because it can be contaminated by the retention of cutting residues of dental structure, restoring materials, oral fluids and blood of the patients. The microwave has been a fast, efficient and economic sterilization method. Perhaps these characteristics of facility and efficiency can stimulate the professionals to adopt its use in high scale, following a safe sterilization protocol. However, this method is sensible to some factors that can have a negative influence its efficiency. One of these factors is the use of immersion material during the microwave irradiation. Therefore, the presence, the type and amount of this material probably will influence the effectiveness of this method. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave sterilization of cylindrical carbide burs (nº57), contaminated by culture of Bacilus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, in different types (water and oil) and amount of immersion material. The results will be analyzed, verifying the conditions that can contribute to a safe protocol of microwave sterilization.