J Korean Acad Conserv Dent.  2010 Jul;35(4):235-237. 10.5395/JKACD.2010.35.4.235.

Infection control of light curing units

• Chang HS

• KMID: 2176373
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2010.35.4.235

Abstract

When curing the composite restorations with light curing units, the light guides are often in direct contact with oral tissues, therefore contamination of light guides is inevitable. Curing light guides fall into the "semicritical" instrument category according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and must be heat or vapor-sterilized or at a minimum, these semicritical instruments must be sterilized in a liquid chemical agent. Currently, most common methods of maintaining sterility of the light guides are wiping the guide with a disinfectant, such as glutaraldehyde, after each patient use; using autoclavable guides; using presterilized, single-use plastic guides; and using translucent disposable barriers to cover the guide.

Keyword

Light guide; Semicritical instrument; Autoclave; Glutaraldehyde; Plastic guide; Disposable barrier

MeSH Terms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Glutaral
Hot Temperature
Humans
Infection Control
Infertility
Light
Plastics
Glutaral
Plastics