Heat Sterilization of Dental Handpieces
FDA Medical Bulletin
Food and Drug Administration
FDA recommends that reusable dental drill handpieces and related instruments (such as air or water syringes and ultrasonic scalers) be heat-sterilized between patients to reduce the risk of disease transmission. If a handpiece cannot withstand heat sterilization, it should be retrofitted to increase heat tolerance and then sterilized. If this can't be done, the handpiece should no longer be used. Chemical disinfection is not recommended. Although no documented cases of disease transmission have been associated with contaminated dental handpieces, the American Dental Association also recommends sterilization of these instruments between patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends that dental handpieces be autoclaved or replaced if they are not currently heat-stable.
Practice Innovations - Handpieces
DPR Magazine
The dental handpiece is probably the most often-purchased piece of major equipment in general dental practices, according to the results of DPR reader surveys over the past 10 years or so. First, on a daily basis, it’s obviously the most used piece of equipment. And, because handpieces now are subjected to regular sterilization, they require replacement more frequently. In fact, this has been the greatest challenge recently for handpiece manufacturers – developing a handpiece that can withstand the rigors of repeated exposure to steam and heat. Design refinements in fiberoptics, bearings, and other internal components, as well as the use of corrosion-resistant materials, have significantly improved handpiece efficiency and longevity along with comfort and ease of use. This improvement effort continues to be a work in progress.
DPR’s Editors
