Sterilization of orthodontic instruments and bands in cassettes.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether orthodontic instruments and bands contaminated with blood or saliva and bacterial spores can be heat sterilized while contained in OMS-ASAPsys instrument and band cassettes. Hinged and nonhinged instruments and bands were contaminated and dried, placed in the cassettes, ultrasonically cleaned, rinsed, and dried. The cassettes were wrapped and then processed through standard steam, chemical vapor, or dry-heat sterilizing cycles. Each instrument and band was then cultured for the presence of live spores. The results showed that the residual spores on the instruments and bands after ultrasonic cleaning and rinsing had indeed been killed in all cases. The three types of sterilization were equally effective. The results indicate that contaminated orthodontic instruments and bands can be sterilized within OMS-ASAPsys cassettes.