While not all states require heat sterilization of dental handpieces, dental handpieces should be autoclaved between patients. It’s a given. Every part of a handpiece, from the outside to the inside, from the nosecone to the motor and prophy angles, can be a source of cross contamination if not properly cleaned, disinfected, and heat sterilized. It is just not possible to guarantee sterility and lack of contaminated bioburden if only barrier protection and disinfection wipes are employed. Handpieces need to go through a strict infection-control process that includes either chemical vapor sterilization, dry heat, or autoclaving, and that’s that.
Today most handpieces are designed to be autoclavable, with smooth surfaces that don’t catch bacteria or blood/tissue debris and hold up to the rigors of the constant sterilization process. Pracitioners are familiar with the SOPs for handpiece cleaning: surface cleaning, lubrication, expelling excess oil, sterilizing completely through the drying cycle, and then thorough air drying.
NSK America’s handpiece motors have always been autoclavable, and are designed with patient safety in mind—as well as to meet the CDC’s guidelines for sterilization. Whether you are performing endodontics, surgery, or oral hygiene procedures, you can be confident that your NSK handpiece will be clean when it comes out of the sterilizer, and the process will not shorten its lifespan.
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