Comparison of Germicidal Efficacy of Oifferent Methods in Sterilizing Dental High-speed Handpieces

Objective To study the efficacy of three sterilizing methods on dental high-speed handpieces. Methods Nine-ty clinically used handpieces were randomly divided into three groups. They were separately sterilized by cieaning with and immersion in 2% glutaral solution, sterilization with ethylene oxide gas and for vacuum high pressure sterilization. Before and after the sterilization, the samples of flushing water were collected from the air and water chan-nels of the handpieces for bacteriological examinations. Results The bactericidal rates for the surface of handpieces after the sterilization with the three techniques were 99. 99% ,100. 00% and 100. 00% , respectively. The bactericidal rate of the air and water channels after sterilization with glutaral solution was 31. 96% and the rates for the other two methods were both 100. 00%. Conclusion The high pressure sterilization is the most effective technique for the sterilization of handpieces.