[Use of a microwave device for dental instrument sterilization: possibilities and limitations].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the effectiveness as sterilizer of a modified version of a microwave device, which was previously tested by the same authors and found unsatisfactory.


METHODS
Dental mirrors were contaminated by 10(4)-10(9) microorganisms of Stapbylococcus aureus and spores of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus. The inocula used were both wet and dry. The duration of the treatment was 4 minutes. Three series of tests were made: 1) microwaves and "adjuvant" solution (as suggested by the producer of the device); 2) microwaves only (in place of the "adjuvant" solution, a Na Cl 0.9% was used); 3) "adjuvant" solution only (into an oven at 25 degrees C).


RESULTS
In the 1st and 3rd series of tests all the microorganisms and the spores were killed. In the 2nd series of tests a bactericidal effect against some, not all, microorganisms of the S. aureus species and against spores of B. subtilis and B. stearothermophilus was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the device tested has a sterilizing activity, which, however, is not due to the activity of microwaves only; but to the combined activity of microwaves, "adjuvant" solution and temperature (since inside the device, at the end of the treatment the temperature on the mirrors was 94 degrees C).
Tarantino
L
L
Istituto di Igiene G. Sanarelli, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma.
Tomassini
E
E
Petti
S
S
Simonetti D'Arca
A
A
D003762:Dental Instruments; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008872:Microwaves