Rotary Instrument Maintenance: The Best Guide for Dental Hygienist or Dental Assistant
Cleaning
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When handling contaminated instruments, we should always wear a glove.
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Pre-soak the burs for at least 10 minutes in a disinfectant solution intended for dental burs that contains a corrosion inhibitor to reduce diamond coating dulling.
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Use a brush to clean the burs thoroughly if needed.
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Rinse several times to remove the disinfection solution.
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Dry the burs and store in a clean and moisture-free environment.
Cleaning with Ultrasonic
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Burs can be ultrasonically cleaned by placing them in bur holders.
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It is advised to run a general purpose cleaner for 5 minutes.
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Rinse several times after cleaning.
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Dry the burs and store in a clean and moisture-free environment.
Sterilization
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Proper instrument sterilization is extremely important to eliminate infectious disease transmission among patients and employees.
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Place the burs in sterilization bags.
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Autoclave the burs at least 10 minutes at a temperature of 135°C.
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Dry the burs and store in a clean and moisture-free environment.
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Use a dry heat sterilizer for one hour at 170 °C (340 °F). This won't corrode or dull carbide bursts when used as directed by the manufacturer's instruction.
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Cold sterilizing solutions should be avoided since they include oxidizing chemicals that could weaken carbide burs.
General Rotary Instrument Usage Tips
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Only qualified dentists should use dental burs to ensure the safety of both the user and the patient.
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Sterilize all burs before each use.
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Burs should be replaced frequently to avoid using a dull, worn, or damaged bur on a patient. A dull or damaged bur could result in reduced efficiency and possible harm to the patient.
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Never force a bur into the turbine.
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Observe recommended speeds and air pressure. This is especially true for burs with a large head size or coarse/super coarse diamond grit size, as excessive speed can generate unwanted heat.
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Do not put pressure on the bur when in use.
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Don’t keep the bur still; constant movement will avoid burning of the bur.
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Do not “extend” the bur (always insert the bur fully into the handpiece chuck).
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Always use the bur with sufficient water coolant.
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Do not use a bur in a worn chuck; doing so may result in bur slippage and/or vibration, which can lead to breakage.
Diamond Burs, Carbide Burs, Surgical & Lab Use Burs, Endodontic burs, IPR Kit, Crown Cutting Kit, Gingivectomy Kit, Root Planning Kit, Composite Polishers, High Speed Burs, Low Speed Burs
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