HIND Current infection control measures and decontamination pattern of reused stainless steel crowns and bands among a sample of Egyptian dentists

Abstract EN

objective: To determine the extent of re-use stainless steel crowns and bands, as well as the methods used for their cleaning and sterilization applied following try-in by a sample of Egyptian dental practitioners.

In addition, the general infection control measures relevant to safe dental practice were surveyed and compared with current guidelines.

Design: Questionnaire survey.

Subjects and methods: Questionnaires were delivered personally to 320 dentists selected at random from Egyptian Dentists.

An overall response rate of 211 (65.9%) questionnaires was achieved.

Results: Among the surveyed dentists, specialists showed the highest percentage (86.4%) of stainless steel crown and bands reuse after decontamination.

Non-specialists showed high percentage (51.9%) of stainless steel crowns and bands without sterilization.

As regards the reason for reusing stainless steel crowns and bond, specialists and non specialists showed statistically significantly high percentage of dentists who reuse them due to cost.

Dentists who had more than 30 years of experience showed higher percentage of dentists who reuse them due to cost.

There was no statistically significant difference between dentists with different years of experience regarding the decontamination methods, general infection control, instrument sterilization and source of knowledge.

Conclusions: The majority of the participating dentists are re-using stainless steel crowns and bands that have been tried-in the mouth due their cost.

The majority of dentists is carrying out approved decontamination procedures; although the great diversity of procedures performed suggest that more research is required to provide guidelines into the most effective method of decontamination.

The majority of Egyptian dentists who responded to the questionnaire are adhering to universal precautions for cross-infection control with regard to the wearing of gloves for the treatment of patients, but not the wearing of masks or eye protection.