Infection control of light curing units.
10.5395/JKACD.2010.35.4.235
- Author:
Hoon Sang CHANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, Iksan, Korea. husch03@wonkwang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Light guide;
Semicritical instrument;
Autoclave;
Glutaraldehyde;
Plastic guide;
Disposable barrier
- MeSH:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.);
Glutaral;
Hot Temperature;
Humans;
Infection Control;
Infertility;
Light;
Plastics
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry
2010;35(4):235-237
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
When curing the composite restorations with light curing units, the light guides are often in direct contact with oral tissues, therefore contamination of light guides is inevitable. Curing light guides fall into the "semicritical" instrument category according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and must be heat or vapor-sterilized or at a minimum, these semicritical instruments must be sterilized in a liquid chemical agent. Currently, most common methods of maintaining sterility of the light guides are wiping the guide with a disinfectant, such as glutaraldehyde, after each patient use; using autoclavable guides; using presterilized, single-use plastic guides; and using translucent disposable barriers to cover the guide.
