STERILIZATION

DR. FARHEEN SAEED

OPERATIVE DENTISTRY DEPT.
 DEFINITION
• “ STERLIZATION is a term referring to any
process that eliminates or kill all forms of
microbes including their spores’’
 Why sterilization is important?
• Infectious dental patients are often
undetected. Sterilization provides a method of
instrument recycling that can be monitored
and documented to show that conditions for
control disease transmission were established.
 METHODS OF STERILIZATION
1) Steam pressure sterilization/moist heat
(Autoclave)

2) Chemical vapor pressure sterilization (chemiclave)

3) Dry heat sterilization (Dryclave)

4) Ethylene oxide gas (ETOX) sterilization

 other sterilization techniques

• Formaldehyde (disinfectant)

• Glutaraldehyde (disinfectant)

• Filtration
 Sterilization
• Heat sterilization by moist heat or dry heat is
the most reliable method in dentistry because
it can be tested biologically.

• Cleaning instruments before sterilization helps

to minimize bacterial concentration and
maximize sterilization efficacy.
 Disinfection
• The killing of many but not all microorganisms.
• Disinfectants are used only on inanimate
objects such as countertops and dental unit
chairs
• E.g. Phenols, Quaternary Ammonium
compounds, Chlorine
 Antiseptics
• Chemicals that kills microorganisms on skin
and mucous membranes e.g. Iodine and
Iodophors etc
• Many antiseptics can also be used as
disinfectants.
• E.g. formaldehyde
 Moist Heat(autoclaving)
• Normal Cycle 121°C for 15-20 Minutes
under 15 lb pressure
• Fast Cycle134°C for 7 minutes under 30 lb
pressure.
• Most common method but can DULL or
Corrode carbon steel instruments.
 Chemical Vapor (Chemiclave)
• 131°C for 20-30 minutes under 20lb pressure

• Uses a combination of Alcohol and

Formaldehyde
• Doesn’t corrode or dull instruments but in
wrapped instruments heat is unable to
penetrate properly.
 Dry heat
• Also called dry heat ovens

• Heat to 160 °C for 2 hours or

• Heat to 170°C for 1 hours

– Doesn’t corrode or dull instruments

 Ethylene Oxide Gas
• Sterilization is slow taking process 8-10 hours
below 100 C.
• Requires appropriate large chambers and
ventilation systems
• Less expensive
• Used in hospitals for heat sensitive materials
 Formaldehyde

• Commonly used as 37% solution in water 

Formalin
• Less efficacious as compared to other
methods of sterilization
 Glutaraldehyde 2%

• Sterilization is slow taking 10 hours

• Associated with hypersensitivity.

• Used mostly for heat sensitive instruments

 Filtration
• Physically and electrostatically traps
microorganisms larger than pore diameter.

• Nitrocellulose filter paper 0.22mm pore size

• Preferred method for liquid sterilization

 Spore test
• Spores test with Bacillus Stearothermaphilus is
recommended on weakly basis.
STERILIZATION POUCHES/ROLL
STERILIZATION PROCESS
 Sterilization of Burs

• Burs can be sterilized in autoclave by keeping

them submerged in 2% Sodium Nitrite
solution or glutaraldehyde for at least half an
hour.
 Monitoring of Sterilization
• Mechanical
• Chemical Indicator Strips
• Weekly Biologic spore test