CLEANING OF ENDODONTIC FILES .1. THE EFFECT OF BIOBURDEN ON THE STERILIZATION OF ENDODONTIC FILES

Ninety-two new endodontic files were randomly assigned to five groups with varying parameters of contamination, cleaning method, and sterili zation (steam or chemical), Files were instrumented in bovine teeth to accumulate debris and a known contaminant, Bacillus stearothermophilu s, Positive controls produced growth on both T-soy agar plates and in T-soy broth, Negative controls and experimental files (some with heavy debris) failed to produce growth. The results showed that there was n o significant difference between contaminated files that were not clea ned before sterilization and contaminated files that were cleaned befo re sterilization. Bioburden present on endodontic files does not appea r to affect the sterilization process.