Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

An Assessment Of Three Different Forms Of Sterlization And Clinical Usage On Various Orthodontic Pin And Ligature Cutters : A Pilot Study, Warren L. Creed

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With an awareness of cross infection in dentistry and of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), sterilization in the dental office has been brought to the public's attention by the news media. Much work has been done on which sterilization methods are acceptable but little has been written about the effects of sterilization procedures on the instruments themselves. In this study, 36 pin and ligature cutters were sterilized 250 cycles using three different methods of sterilization following the guidelines given by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The cutters were examined for changes in lateral hinge movement, visual appearance and ordinal …