Bacteriological analysis of high-speed handpiece turbines
Article Abstract:
Contamination of handheld dental drills with blood and potentially infectious material probably occurs infrequently if at all. A study examined bacterial growth on 20 high-speed dental drills: 10 that were sterilized after clinical use and 10 that were not sterilized. The turbines (motors) were removed and soaked in saline solution, which was cultured to detect bacterial contamination. No bacterial growth was found on any of the turbines regardless of whether they had been sterilized after use. The only sample that was positive for bacterial contamination was one that had been deliberately inoculated with human saliva. The complete lack of bacterial growth on the drills may have been caused by several factors. Most of the patients on whom the drills were used had a rubber dental dam in place during treatment. The use of a dental dam may significantly reduce contamination of the drill.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Dental Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-8177
Year: 1993
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Evaluating chemical inactivation of viral agents in handpiece splatter
Article Abstract:
The addition of a disinfectant to the handpiece water supply of a high speed dental drill may reduce viral dispersion in water splatter. In a series of six experiments, researchers collected and analyzed virally-contaminated splatter produced by the water spray from a high speed dental drill. The handpiece water supply of the dental drill contained sterile water or water with varying concentrations of ethanol or sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The addition of a disinfectant to the water supply significantly reduced the amount of virus in water splatter. Sodium hypochlorite was a more effective disinfectant than ethanol. NaOCl in concentrations of .01% to .02% reduced the quantity of virus in splatter by more than 99%. Ethanol in a 50% concentration reduced the amount of virus in the splatter by 90%.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Dental Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-8177
Year: 1995
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Comparison of cavity preparation quality using an electric motor handpiece and an air turbine dental handpiece
Article Abstract:
A study conducted to compare the quality of cavity preparations with an electric motor (high-speed high-torque) handpiece and (high-speed low-torque) is presented. The result showed that the electric motor handpiece performance is almost same as that of the air turbine handpiece. The advantages and disadvantages of both the handpieces are also discussed.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Dental Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-8177
Year: 2005
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