Microbiological analysis of instrumental used in dental restoration

• Autores: Fajardo , Zulema, Sarmiento-Ordóñez , Jessica, Lima-Illescas, Miriam, Jiménez Romero, Magaly, Mejía-Malla, Alejandra
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2026
• Institución: Universidad de San Martín de Porres
• Repositorio: Revistas - Universidad de San Martín de Porres
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:revistas.usmp.edu.pe:article/3452
• Enlace del recurso: https://portalrevistas.aulavirtualusmp.pe/index.php/Rev-Kiru0/article/view/3452
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Dentistry, Operative; Containment of Biohazards; Microbiology; Disinfection; Operatoria Dental; Contención de Riesgos Biológicos; Microbiología; Desinfección

Introduction: In dental practice, biosafety constitutes a fundamental component for ensuring the protection of both patients and healthcare personnel. Among the most commonly used methods for instrument decontamination and sterilization are enzymatic detergents and autoclaves in which adequate temperature control is essential for the elimination microorganisms and bacterial spores. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the sterilization process for surgical instruments through residual microbiological analysis of their surfaces. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in which 100 samples of dental instruments used in dental surgery were collected. The samples were classified into four groups: 25 explorers, 25 mouth mirrors, 25 round diamond burs, and 25 cylindrical diamond burs. Samples were obtained through random sterile swabbing of instruments used by undergraduate dentistry students at a private pre-professional practice clinic. The association between instrument type and the presence of contamination was evaluated using the chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. Results: Microbial contamination was detected in 14% of the samples, characterized by the presence of Gram-positive cocci. No statistically significant association was observed between the type of instrument and the presence of contamination (p>0.05). Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of correctly implementing disinfection procedures prior to the sterilization process of dental instruments in order to ensure effective microbial elimination.