In health care, dentistry has long been at the forefront of

the development of new products and procedures that

reduce the potential for disease transmission. Much of

this is achieved through sterilization. Sterilization is the

destruction of all living micro-organisms, including

spores (reproductive bodies) of the hardiest bacteria

and fungi.

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Many of the instruments used in dentistry need to be

sterilized. The instruments that contact teeth in drilling

and polishing are either sterilized or discarded between

patients. All dental offices have extra sets of instruments

which allows for proper sterilization time.
 

We use an autolclaving machine, a dental sterilizer that processes instruments faster and more effectively than ever before. In autoclaving, instruments (which are first cleaned, dried, and placed in a special steam-penetrable wrap), are subjected to pressurized steam for 15 to 20 minutes. The instruments are then left in their protective packaging until they are needed.

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