EFFECTIVE ROOM TEMPERATURE DENTAL HANDPIECE STERILIZER

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to research and develop a novel, reliable, and affordable technology for effective sterilization of Dental Handpieces (DH) at room temperature. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that these del icate instruments be heat- sterilized between patients to reduce the risk of disease transmission. While autoclaving is the most versatile of these methods, many materials and instruments suffer irreversible damage when exposed to moist heat at the tempera tures and for the times required for sterilization. After several sterilization cycles, moist heat shortens the useful life of most Dental tools. Moist heat sterilization rapidly corrodes metal instruments and dulls blades. The technology utilizes a non-co rrosive gas sterilant produced in a free radical source to sterilize a wide range of materials and surfaces. The air/gas stream containing free radicals produced in the source will even be able to penetrate and efficiently sterilize instruments such as han dpiece inner channels. The proposed sterilization technology is safe, will not require chemicals, and will be simple in operation and maintenance free. Its simplicity and affordability resulting from operating at low-temperature and with low energy require ments make it very suitable for developing a sterilization device for use in many Dental offices. During Phase I tests, an air stream containing free radicals produced in the source system effectively inactivated 100% of highly concentrated microorganisms in spore form deposited inside the narrowest DH channel at the temperature of the sterilization process maintained below 30oC in time less than 10 minutes. During Phase I of the program, material compatibility were assessed and proved that the technology i s safe for DH. .High quality care at lowest possible cost creates a necessity of development of new safe, cheap sterilization technologies. Sterilization of Dental Handpieces (DHs), is currently one of the important issues in Dental care, since these preci sion instruments, costing about 1,000 each, need to be sterilized between patients. The proposed development of the effective, room temperature sterilization technology offers cheap alternative to autoclaving.