Endodontic files: To sterilize or to discard?

Manuel Marques Ferreira, Andre Luiz da Costa Michelotto, Ana Rita Alexandre, Rodolfo Morganho, Eunice Virginia Palmeirão Carrilho

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine both qualitatively and quantitatively the presence of organic debris on endodontic files decontaminated and sterilized after use. Methods: Thirty K files #30 were used, 10 of which served as positive and negative control. Ten pig molars were instrumented using the Crown-Down technique by inserting one file in each root canal, totaling 25 files. The files in group 1 (n=10) were sterilized by autoclave. Files in group 2 (n=10) were placed in an ultrasonic bath with enzyme solution and then sterilized by autoclave. Those in group 3 (n=5) were used but not sterilized, and finally the files in group 4 (n=5) were neither used nor sterilized. The experimental and control files were subsequently stained with Van Gieson’s solution and observed by optical microscopy. A value representative of the amount of organic material still present on the file was then assigned in accordance with a previously established scale. The same measurement was carried out in the apical, middle and cervical thirds of each file body while tables were formulated comparing the different groups. Results: The results demonstrated that both experimental groups produced significantly inferior results compared to the files in the positive control group. Conclusions: In comparing the experimental groups, the files immersed in ultrasonic bath with enzyme solution exhibited values that were inferior to those of the files which had not been subjected to this procedure.

Keywords: Prions. Dental infection control. Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome. Endodontics.

How to cite: Ferreira MM, Michelotto ALC, Alexandre AR, Morganho R, Carrilho EVP. Endodontic files: Sterilize or discard? Dental Press Endod. 2012 Jan-Mar;2(1):46-51.

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