title: An energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and SEM study of debris remaining on endodontic instruments after ultrasonic cleaning and autoclave sterilization.
abstract: This study was carried out to investigate metallic and non-metallic debris remaining on endodontic files after ultrasonic cleaning and autoclave processing. Forty-eight unused rotary and hand endodontic files, including eight different brands, were tested. Instruments were cleaned with ultrasound, autoclaved and before and after each step were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adherent debris was analysed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). All of the instruments before ultrasound cleaning were contaminated with metallic and non-metallic debris. Although most non-metallic debris was removed by ultrasonic cleaning, most of the metallic debris remained even after the final step of sterilization.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. masoudparirokh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parirokh
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgary
authors.forename: Mohammad Jafar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eghbal
mesh_terms: D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003762:Dental Instruments; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009532:Nickel; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D008670:Metals; D013227:Steam; C040654:titanium nickelide; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium