Removing hepatitis C virus from polytetrafluoroethylene-coated orthodontic archwires and other dental instruments.

The efficacy of removing, rather than destroying, hepatitis C virus (HCV) from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated orthodontic archwirs was tested. PTFE-coated archwires, pieces of PTFE and endodontic files (20 each) were immersed in HCV-infected blood for 24 hours. Half were washed under running water for 10 seconds while the remainder were thoroughly scrubbed with a toothbrush under running water for 10 seconds. Items were kept in separate dishes of distilled water for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for viral replication. Viruses were detected by the gel method using a transilluminator. Only scrubbed PTFE pieces and coated archwires were negative for HCV. This suggests that PTFE coating of dental instruments inhibited HCV adhesion when thoroughly scrubbed.