Glasperlen dental sterilizer for small instruments: what is it

It is difficult to find a person who in his life would not go to the dentist. Despite the fact that treatment technology is changing for the better, the first question that worries most is how carefully the instruments are processed.

After all, even the best doctor, picking up a non-sterile instrument, will do more harm than good. Therefore, when you enter a dentist's treatment room, you involuntarily pay attention to the tools for processing instruments.

There are a lot of time-tested devices: dry ovens, UV and microwave devices for processing instrumentation. Not so long ago, Italian technologists developed a glasperlen sterilizer, which quickly gained popularity in cosmetology and medicine as an alternative method for processing instruments.

What are Glasperlen sterilizers used for in dentistry?

For a person far from medicine, words such as an autoclave, a dry oven, a sterilizer are incomprehensible. However, these devices, like many others, were created with the sole purpose of achieving maximum disinfection of instruments.

In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur began to use autoclaving for disinfection, and in 1881 the famous physician Robert Koch invented the first steam sterilizer, significantly increasing human survival after operations.

Today sterilizers are used in beauty salons to process instruments for care procedures; they are recommended to be purchased by individuals for home use. And of course, in all hospitals, medical offices, including dental ones, without exception, these devices are necessary.

Glasperlen sterilizer is a device suitable for disinfection of small dental instruments in dentistry.

What he really is?

Outwardly, the device resembles a small box-flask, the dimensions of which vary within the range of 16 cm x 17 cm x 16 cm. In large clinics, they are comparable in size to a microwave oven. The base is made of impact-resistant plastic and the base core is heat-resistant metal.

There are expensive, professional glasperlen sterilizers, for example, from Ultratech, where the flask is ceramic. It is believed to be more durable, retain heat better, save energy, do not corrode, and there is no conflict between external and internal material.

All devices are equipped with heat-resistant switches and indicators, high-quality insulating elements. The rubber base prevents slipping, and the powder coating maintains a presentable look.

The inner flask holds quartz balls with a diameter of 0.8 mm to 1 cm. The material for the balls was not chosen by chance.

Quartz glass is different:

• increased hardness (Moss scale 7);
• heat resistance;
• high transmittance of UV and IR waves;
• good chemical resistance.

Heating elements are evenly distributed around the flask, which heat the balls to 220-280 ° C.

The maximum temperature is generated within 25-30 minutes.

The sterilization time of instruments is 10-20 seconds (The instructions recommend not to exceed the border of 40 seconds).

The device is suitable for processing small dental metal parts: drills, burs, tweezers, probes, scalpels.

How does the device work?

The device is easy to use. The device has one operating mode, which allows you to prepare the necessary tools for work in a short period of time.

Do not sterilize devices with plastic handles or plastic elements in the device. Processing time is limited to a maximum of 40 seconds. During this time, high temperature and pressure destroy most strains, infections, which excludes any infection, including HIV, hepatitis B, C.

The balls in the apparatus need to be replaced. At the standard intensity of the daily work of the dental office after 12 months you will need to change them, as they lose their thermal conductivity and cease to sterilize 100% items.

500 grams of Macrostop balls costs 435 rubles, and TNL - 300.

Review of a budget sterilizer, video:

Actual prices

The principle of operation of a dental glasperlen sterilizer for small instruments does not change, but the price may vary depending on the company and the quality of the device.

The shorter the sterilization time of medical instruments and the more intense the heating temperature, the higher the cost of the apparatus.

The simplest device, suitable for use in dental offices, costs 1200 rubles, a professional one - from 9 thousand rubles. The shelf life also depends on the company, but mainly for small devices there is a 1 year warranty, for professional ones - 2 years.

Here is a small table of prices for sterilizers:

Firm	Cost, rub)	Guarantee period
Ultratech SD-780 (Russia)	7 - 9 thousand	1 year
TNL (Korea)	from 2,500	1 year
Geosoft (Russia-Israel)	15 - 18 thousand	1 year
Chinese variants	from 800	6 months

Sterilizers for dental offices must be certified in order to avoid problems with the sanitary-epidemiological service.

All devices are accompanied by a document confirming that they have passed clinical trials. Gasperlen sterilizers have a registration certificate of the Ministry of Health of Russia, a certificate of conformity ROST.

Instructions for use

The glasperlen sterilizer in dentistry is used for emergency sterilization as follows:

1. Make sure the balls are poured into the work surface. Close the lid tightly and do not open until the device is ready for sterilization. Connect the device to a power outlet, press the switch, the indicator will turn green. It will take at least 25 minutes for the temperature to reach 250 °. As soon as the light goes out, the device is ready for use.
2. Immerse the required metal devices in the bead medium with tweezers for the time indicated in the instructions. Then remove them, close the lid tightly. The indicator light will periodically light up, which indicates the operation of the device and maintaining a constant high temperature in it. The autoclave must be turned off after operation.

Safety at work. It is forbidden:

• sterilize wet items;
• immerse / remove objects by hand, only with tweezers;
• check with your hands if the balls are hot;
• open the lid during operation;
• use balls not intended for the device.

For each device, an instruction has been created that regulates the processing time of instruments. On average, for dental mirrors, probes are sufficient for 2 seconds; for endodontic instruments - 5 sec; for surgical - 10.

Observing simple operating rules, you significantly increase the service life of the device.

Advantages and disadvantages

Glasperlen sterilizer is a common device in dentistry for a number of reasons:

1. Highly efficient. Allows you to quickly prepare tools for work. During the day, it maintains a high-temperature regime, so at any time you can spend 10-20 seconds on processing small dental parts.
2. All materials are non-toxic (including quartz balls).
3. Sterilizers can be placed in a small office on the work area, shelf, medical trolley.
4. Budget cost / fast payback.

Despite the attractiveness of the sterilizer, it has drawbacks.

All processed instruments should be used immediately after they are removed from the sterilizer. It is not allowed to work with drills, probes if they are lying on the table.

Manufacturers of sterilizers allow for the disinfection of burs in it, but the developers of the latter do not recommend processing them at temperatures above 160 ° C due to the destruction of the structure and abrasive layer. Dentists, as practitioners, support the point of view of the instrument developers.