Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the lubrication on the autoclaving (132°C, 6min) of the dental air-turbine hand-pieces (THP). Using new 15 THPs, were sucked intentionally dye solution or blood or alcohol, we examined the emission effect by lubrication and the change of rotation speed. The results were as follows:
1) The amount of dye solution remaining in the bearing, was quantified by spectrophotometry (539nm). The average emission rate calculated for the THPs without lubrication, was 92.0% in the hand-spray lubrication followed by non-load rotation, and was 93.5% in the lubrication apparatus, no significant difference was observed between the two methods.
2) In THPs sucked alcohol with lubrication and autoclaving, rotation speed decreased because of the oil layer’s loss.
3) THPs sucked blood, which treated with lubrication prior to autoclaving, was maintained in rotation speed, and their bearing were almost cleaned.
However the THPs without lubrication couldn’t be rotated, and their bearing were contaminated heavily with blood coagulum.
In conclusion, this study clarified that lubrication had emission effect more than 90%, and lubrication prior to autoclaving is useful to prevent the shortening the life-cycle of THPs by autoclaving.
