Can Protein Contamination be Removed from Hand Endodontic Instruments?

Abstract

The most effective method of presterilisation cleaning for hand endodontic files is a presoak in Alkazyme, an alkaline enzymatic detergent, followed by processing in a Miele G7881 washer-disinfector. This study provides up-to-date evidence that newer methods of presterilisation cleaning may fail to remove protein from endodontic hand instruments totally. This may have implications for all reusable dental instruments.

Effect of Recycling Protocol on Mechanical Strength of Used Mini-Implants

“…Importantly, scientific lines of evidence have shown that traditional cleaning processes, such as sonication, even when associated with chemical agents, cannot be sufficient to efficiently remove the proteinaceous biofilm from contaminated instruments, and more aggressive and complex recycling methods as electrolysis have been suggested [7, 12, 26]. Considering that sandblasting is a simple procedure able to clean the screw surface by abrasive mechanical stripping, which can still benefit bone tissue response [27, 28], this study evaluated the mechanical strength of screws previously inserted in pig iliac bone that underwent recycling processes including sonication, sandblasting, and autoclave sterilization (group 3).…”

Decontamination in primary care dentistry

“…Two washer-disinfectors tested in another study were more effective in removing viable bacteria from dental burs than manual cleaning ( Whitworth et al, 2004 ). Processing in a washer-disinfector was statistically signifi cantly more effective in removing protein from clinically contaminated hand endodontic fi les than ultrasonic cleaning ( Whitworth et al, 2009 ). In a study comparing the cleaning of photographic retractors by wiping with alcohol cloths, manual washing, ultrasonic cleaning and cleaning in a washer-disinfector, processing in the washer-disinfector was statistically signifi cantly more effective in removing albumin and amylase than all of the other methods tested ( Benson et al, 2010 ).…”

Análisis LIBS de la limpieza realizada por un láser Nd:Yag sobre instrumentos de níquel titanio usados

“…Endodontic instrument cleaning methods are varied and include mainly procedures such as prewetting in enzymatic solution, cleaning of the active part of the instruments with a sponge, instruments subjected to cleaning employing ultrasonic tanks, [10][11][12] and sonochemical reactors that intensify the cavitation effect in ultrasonic tanks. 9 However, these instrument cleaning methods are not able to eliminate prion proteins that are theoretically capable of transmitting spongiform encephalopathy-type diseases because these proteins are resistant to the high temperatures generated during sterilization procedures.…”

“…Los métodos limpieza de instrumentos endodónticos son variados e incluyen principalmente procedimientos como la prehumidificación en solución enzimática, limpieza de la parte activa de los instrumentos con esponja, instrumentos sometidos a la limpieza por medio de cubetas ultrasónicas [10][11][12] y reactores sonoquímicos que intensifican el efecto de cavitación en cubetas ultrasónicas. 9 Sin embargo, estos métodos de limpieza de instrumentos no son capaces de eliminar las proteínas prión que, teóricamente, son capaces de transmitir enfermedades de tipo encefalopatías espongiformes, ya que estas proteínas son resistentes a las altas temperaturas generadas durante los procedimientos de esterilización.…”