Objective: To assess the utilization of sterilizing equipment used by dentists, and verification of sterilization using biological indicators.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1999-2000, among 130 (65%) dentists having sterilizing equipment, at Facultad de Estomatología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí and Colegio Dental Potosino. Biological indicators for sterilization containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus were used.
Results: Thirty autoclaves and 100 dry-heat sterilizers were evaluated: 23 (17.7%) of them showed bacterial growth. Twenty-one (16.1%) dentists already were using biological indicators to verify their sterilizing equipment. Both sterilization methods were found to allow bacterial growth with similar frequencies (p = > 0.66).
Conclusions: Few dentists verify the quality of sterilization process through biological indicators; bacterial growth and failure of sterilization were evidenced.