Sterilizing Endodontic Files by four different sterilization methods to prevent cross-infection - An In-vitro Study.
BACKGROUND
Aim of the study was to compare 4 different methods of sterilizing endodontic files in dental practice.


METHODS
The present study was performed on 100 K-files, 21 mm long and of size 25. Of these, 20 files were taken as control group, and the remaining 80 files were divided into 4 groups of 20 files each and they were tested for the efficacy of sterilization with different methods: Autoclave, glass bead, glutaraldehyde and CO2 laser.


RESULTS
The study showed that the files sterilized by autoclave and lasers were completely sterile. Those sterilized by glass bead were 90% sterile and those with glutaraldehyde were 80% sterile.


CONCLUSIONS
The study concluded that autoclave or laser could be used as a method of sterilization in clinical practice and in advanced clinics; laser can be used also as a chair side method of sterilization. How to cite this article: Raju TB, Garapati S, Agrawal R, Reddy S, Razdan A, Kumar SK. Sterilizing Endodontic Files by four different sterilization methods to prevent cross-infection - An In-vitro Study. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(6):108-12 .
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Sree Sai Dental College and Research Institute, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
T B V G
TB
Raju
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, A J Shetty Dental College Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Satish
S
Garapati
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Maitri College of Dentistry & Research Centre, Anjora, Chhattisgarh, India.
Rupika
R
Agrawal
Department of Periodontics, H K D E T's Dental College, Humnabad, Karnataka, India.
Sridhara
S
Reddy
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Rungta College of Dental Sciences & Research, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India.
Ankur
A
Razdan
Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Aditya Dental College, Beed, Maharashtra, India.
S Kishore
SK
Kumar
Bacillus Stearothermophillus; Thioglycollate medium; endodontic files; endodontic instrument box; sterilization