THE EFFECT OF AUTOCLAVING AND POLISHING TECHNIQUES ON ENERGY TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT-CURING TIPS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate if autoclaving light-curing lips in sterilization packages using a properly maintain ed autoclave filled with distilled water reduced the buildup of boiler scale and allowed the tips to maintain their ability to transmit ener gy. Method and Materials: Thirty light-curing tips were divided into g roups. control, never autoclaved; group I, no light-curing tip treatme nt, autoclaved only; group 2, autoclaved and treated with the Demetron /Kerr Optics Maintenance Kit; group 3, autoclaved and treated with the EFOS Fiberoptic Cleaning Kit; group 4, autoclaved and treated with Sh ofu Brownie and Greenie polishing points; and group 5, autoclaved and treated with a standard rubber prophylaxis clip. The curing tips were packaged and subjected to 30 autoclave cycles in a clinical autoclave with standard loads of clinical instruments. The light transmission wa s measured with a curing radiometer: Results: Results showed a 7% decr ease in energy transmission for the untreated rips compared to the con trol. Both polishing system groups demonstrated a 4% decrease. There w as no significant difference between the control and the first three g roups. The polishing point and prophylaxis clip groups showed signific antly decreased energy transmission (decreases of 11% ann 25%, respect ively).Conclusion: Light-curing tips can be autoclaved with routine pa ckaged lends of clinical instruments and retain their ability to trans mit light energy, provided that the tips are packaged and the autoclav e is properly maintained and filled with distilled water Commercially available optics maintenance kits are effective in removing deposits a nd restoring light energy transmission.