Effect of steam versus dry-heat sterilization on the wear of orthodontic ligature-cutting pliers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the wear of orthodontic ligature-cutting pliers after multiple cycles of cutting stainless steel ligature wire (.025 mm) and sterilizing with dry heat or steam autoclave. Fifty ligature-cutting pliers with stainless steel inserts were randomly divided into 2 equal groups to be sterilized in either dry heat or steam autoclave. Each plier was subjected to a series of ligature wire cuts followed by the assigned sterilization method. The amount of wear at the tip of each plier in both groups was measured with a stereo microscope system and digital photomicrography. Wear was defined as the difference in initial length from a marked reference line to the tip of the plier minus the length after 6 and 12 cycles of use and sterilization. There was no significant difference in the mean wear at the tip of the pliers between the 2 groups. It appears that there is no need to maintain both sterilization systems, dry heat and steam autoclave, in the orthodontic office. Steam autoclave sterilization can be used with no deleterious effects on the pliers if they are manufactured with stainless steel inserts. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2002;121:467-71)