title: Effect of glutaraldehyde cold sterilants on light transmission of curing tips.
abstract: This research examined the effect of immersion in glutaraldehyde-based cold sterilizing solutions on the ability of light-curing tips to transmit a standardized light intensity. Five commercial cold sterilizing solutions were selected, based on their classification: neutral (Cetylcide-G, 3.2%), acidic (Banicide, 2.0%), or alkaline (Cidex Plus, 2.5%; Cidex 7, 3.4%; and Sporicidin, 0.5%). Distilled water was used as the control. The light intensity transmitted through 24, 8-mm-diameter curing tips of similar type was determined by applying a standardized intensity (500 m W/cm2). Three tips were placed into each type of solution. The percentage of preimmersion intensity was determined at periodic intervals until all tips had received a total of 1,000 hours of immersion. After 1,000 hours' immersion, light transmission decreased significantly more in tips subjected to Cidex 7 than in tips subjected to all other treatments, which were all equivalent to the water control (an average increase of 1.5% over preimmersion values). The decrease in intensity seen with Cidex 7 averaged 49% and could not be totally recovered after use of conventional tip-polishing methods. Reduction in light levels could not be correlated with the pH of the sterilizing solutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-1260, USA. snelson@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Caughman
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rueggeberg
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lockwood
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D019551:Dental Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007101:Immersion; D008027:Light; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D005976:Glutaral