Efficacy of sterilization of endodontic files after autoclaving in a synthetic sponge.

A common way of sterilizing endodontic files for clinical use is to insert them into synthetic sponges. The files are sterilized in the sponge, and the sponge is then used on the patient tray for ease of file retrieval. The ability to sterilize the files in a sponge has been questioned. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the sterility of files and spore strips following autoclaving in a sponge. Commercial spore strips and contaminated endodontic files were inserted into sponges, sealed in sterilization pouches and autoclaved. The spore strips and the files were removed from the sponge and cultured for growth of microorganisms. Results show that no microbes were cultured from spore strips or contaminated files after autoclaving them in the sponges sealed in autoclave pouches. These results indicate that the insertion of files into the sponges used in this study does not obstruct the autoclaving process.