Article
The recommended single-use and disposal of expensive endodontic instruments remains controversial, and it is known simply from sales figures versus number of treatments performed that many practitioners do not follow the guidelines. Although these researchers have carried out the same work that has been repeated and reported elsewhere, the results make disturbing reading.
One hundred and eighty endodontic instruments were collected from eighteen different dental practices and the method of cleaning and disinfection used in that practice recorded. Following staining with Van Gieson's solution the instruments were analysed microscopically for the presence of organic debris. This was found to be present on 96% of the instruments, with 62% having scattered organic debris and 34% an organic film. It is concluded that the methods of cleaning and disinfection generally used in dental practice are quite inadequate.
Whilst this finding is completely unacceptable, it is suggested that the methods of routine cleaning in some practices using alcohol may actually compound the problem as this may fix the debris, as may the use of heat. The paper includes a very comprehensive review of the literature on this subject which may be required reading for the sceptics among us.