Sterilization of extracted human teeth: A comparative analysis.
BACKGROUND
Extracted human teeth are regularly used for practice and educational purposes in dental institutions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Different materials and methods are used for sterilizing extracted teeth to avoid infection from them.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was done to determine the efficacy of some frequently used methods for disinfection/sterilization of extracted human teeth.


METHODS
A total of 120 intact, non-carious teeth extracted due to periodontal or orthodontic purpose were divided randomly into 8 groups consisting of 15 teeth in each group. Agents used for sterilization included 10% formalin, 0.1% thymol in distilled water, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, 3% hydrogen peroxide, boiled in water (100 °C), autoclave (121 °C, 15 lbs psi), normal saline. Samples were collected with the help of inoculating loop and then streaked over the surface of Mc-Conkey agar medium and Blood agar medium. The media were then incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. No visible growth in the culture medium was considered as the method of effective sterilization.


RESULTS
10% formalin, autoclaving, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite could be efficiently used for sterilization and disinfection of extracted human teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
Extracted teeth should be handled with extreme care as these are potential source of infection and need to be disinfected before they are used in the laboratories.
Professor and Head, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Simarpreet V
SV
Sandhu
Reader, Department of Microbiology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Rajiv
R
Tiwari
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
RamanPreet K
RK
Bhullar
Reader, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Himanta
H
Bansal
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Rajat
R
Bhandari
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Tushaar
T
Kakkar
PG student, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur-Moga Road, Ferozepur 152001, Punjab, India.
Ridhima
R
Bhusri
Autoclave; Cross-contamination; Culture media; Extracted teeth; Sterilization