title: Comparison of convection heat sterilization units for the orthodontic office.
abstract: Convection heat has become a popular means of sterilization for orthodontic practices. Several commercial brands are currently being marketed. This investigation compares the Cox sterilizer, the Dentronix DDS 5000, and a Farberware convection oven by means of thermal and bacteriologic testing. Thermal testing was conducted with a thermocouple in well-defined areas of each oven, while bacterologic evaluation involved Bacillus subtilis spore strips placed in specific sectors. The results showed that specific areas of the Cox sterilizer dropped below 375 degrees F during the sterilization cycle, while the DDS 5000 maintained temperatures above 375 degrees F. The Farberware oven reached a mean temperature (including 1 standard deviation) above 375 degrees F when set at 400 degrees F after the oven was allowed to warm up for 13 minutes. Spore growth was detected in several sectors of both the Cox sterilizer and the DDS 5000. No growth was seen in the Farberware oven.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, School of Dentistry, Birmingham.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodu
mesh_terms: D003770:Dental Offices; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D009970:Orthodontics; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013816:Thermodynamics