PREVENTION OF INFECTION IN DENTAL PROCEDURES

The efficacy of a newly-developed anti-cross-contamination device in d entistry, the Air Flushing Clean System (AFCS), was tested under exper imental and clinical conditions. In the experimental situation, a dent al air turbine handpiece with or without AFCS was contaminated with tw o bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus FDA209P and Streptococcus m utans ATCC25175. After contamination with these bacteria, the handpiec es were subjected to two disinfecting methods. Residual bacteria insid e the handpiece or an air/water line were cultured and counted, and co mpared with controls. In this experiment, with AFCS but no dental vacu um suction, wiping of the handpiece with 70% ethanol gauze reduced the count of S. aureus by 99%. No bacterial contamination in the air/wate r line was detected after exchanging with an autoclaved handpiece. Wit h AFCS and dental vacuum suction, bacterial contamination in the air/w ater line, as well as in the interior of the handpiece, was not detect ed. These results indicate that AFCS could reduce bacterial contaminat ion within the air turbine handpiece more effectively than the convent ional handpiece regardless of whether or not the dental vacuum suction was used.