Handpiece asepsis among dental practitioners in Mosul city

Abstract EN

Aims : to investigate the incidence of hand piece asepsis in general dental practice in Mosul City and to evaluate the problems associated with routine hand piece sterilization which are commonly needed by those practitioners.

Materials and Methods : A questionnaire was designed to collect the information about hand piece asepsis techniques performed by dentists.

One hundred twenty dentists in Mosul City were randomly selected and the data were analyzed.

Results : About 55.8 % of the respondents know about the importance of hand piece sterilization, but no one do ideal sterilization between each patient due to absence of sufficient number of hand piece and lack of autoclave system in clinics.

No one disinfect the hand piece scientifically ; 59.38 % smear the hand piece between each patient by one of the antiseptic solutions.

Conclusion : hand piece asepsis in Mosul dental clinics is poor.

Most of dentists depend on disinfection by disinfectant solution to prevent cross infection by hand pieces.

Most dentists, because of their poor equipment in both private and national clinics, cannot sterilize hand pieces after each patient.