Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Abstract

A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF STERILIZATIONS ON MODULUS OF ELASTICITY AND SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY OF COPPER NITI WIRESAN INVITRO STUDY

Sreekanth.Cherukur, Durga Prasad G, Santhanakrishnan K, Vijaya Prasad K.E

Copper NiTi wires were This latest innovation in the evolutionary scale gives us the opportunity of choosing the force level by choosing the temperature at which the wires will deliver its optimum force level. With so many advantages and their ability to return to their original form coupled with the high cost of copper NiTi many clinicians started reusing the wire. This raises concern about disinfecting/sterilizing the wire before using in another patient for prevention of cross infection. Hence, various sterilization procedures like cold sterilization using 2% acidic Glutaraldehyde, dry heat sterilization and autoclaving were used to prevent this cross infection . Aim: The main aim of this study is used to evaluate the effects of different kinds of sterilization on Modulus of elasticity and surface topography of the 0.016 copper NiTi wires before and after sterilization procedure Materials and Methods: In the present study, Three point bending test along with tensile test was performed to evaluate the modulus of elasticity. Scanning electron microscope pictures were used to evaluate surface topography changes. Results: Pretreatment and post treatment values were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA test. No detrimental changes were detected in tensile properties of copper NiTi were after single cycle of sterilization with any of the stated sterilants. Very minimal non significant changes occurred during the second cycle of sterilization procedure. There was no changes in surface topography of the wire either with dry heat or autoclaving. However, on second treatment cycle with 2% glutaraldehyde, some amount of surface pitting was seen. Conclusion: Dry heat sterilization and autoclaving have been found to have very minimal changes on the tensile properties of these wires after one or two cycles of sterilization procedures, but not statistically significant. No detrimental effect was found on surface topography with dry heat or autoclaving. Results support the use of these sterilization procedures as part of infection control process, if the clinician select to reuse these wires for one time only. However, of late, since there is easy availability and modest cost of these wires it is recommended to use new wires which are supplied sealed sterilized packs for each patient to comply with present admissible standard of hygiene and sterilization

Published Date: 2012-09-30;