Decontamination procedures for tungsten carbide debonding burs: a cross-sectional survey of hospital-based orthodontic departments

• Autores: Martyn T Cobourne
• Localización: Journal of orthodontics, ISSN-e 0301-228X, ISSN 1465-3125, Nº. 3-37, 2010, págs. 174-180
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objective: To determine the current pattern of use and handling of tungsten carbide debonding burs (TCDBs) within UK hospital-based orthodontic departments.

    Design: Cross-sectional survey.

    Subjects and methods: Questionnaires were sent to 217 departments within the UK and an overall response rate of 93% was achieved.

    Results: Most hospital departments (68%) currently use TCDBs designed for a slow handpiece. Just over half (55%) discard their TCDBs after single-use, but only 24% adequately decontaminate new burs prior to initial use. Almost all those that reuse TCDBs decontaminate them in a sterilizer and carry out combinatorial presterilization cleaning. The most common methods are manual cleaning followed by an ultrasonic bath (26%) or washer-disinfector (15%); or alternatively, soaking of burs followed by manual cleaning (13%). For those departments that use only a single method, manual cleaning (29%) or a washer-disinfector (10%) are most common. In terms of sterilizing TCDBs, 58% used a vacuum phase autoclave and 13% a downward displacement.

    Conclusions: There is wide variation in the handling of TCDBs in UK hospital-based orthodontic departments. Decontamination of new TCDBs prior to initial use is carried out by less than a third of departments. Despite their classification as reusable devices, just over half discard TCDBs after single use. However, among those that do reuse TCDBs, almost all decontaminate them correctly.