The Effectiveness of Cleaning and Sterilizing Reciprocal Orthodontic Interproximal Reduction Strips for Patient Re-use: A Comparative Study.
Abstract
Diamond coated IPR strips are used for the incremental removal of enamel between teeth. Infection control research has sparked a national debate about cross-contamination through medical devices and the need to limit them to single use. Proponents cite patient safety while opponents cite the costs and waste of such policies. In 2003 the FDA regulated that all manufacturers label diamond coated dental instruments as single use citing a lack of research by manufacturers on the subject. While there are limited studies on cylindrical burs, there are none on IPR strips. Additionally, there is a lack of investigation into how variables such as diamond grit and methods of cleaning relate to sterilizability and removal of debris on these instruments. The purpose of this study was to eliminate the uncertainty about the safety of IPR strip re-use, and by extension, the re-use of dental diamond coated instruments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1103226
Entities
People
- James H Martineau
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing