Glass bead Sterlizer works on the method formerly used for sterilizing the working ends of endodontic files and reamers by placing them in a container containing glass beads heated to approximately 225°C (437°F) for a defined period of time. Current cross-infection control and prevention best practice requires that endodontic files are single-use items only. Glass bead sterilizer is still a common method for chair-side sterilization of small dental hand instruments. Studies from the 1950-1970s achieved sterilization by the bead sterilizer within few seconds. For effective sterilization, the sterilization time has to be at least 60 sec. It is convenient and portable. Chair side sterilization has proven to be effective in procedures such as endodontic therapy and certain orthodontic procedures.
Sterilization of instruments such as endodontic files in during the procedure has had positive effects as the possibility of microbial remnants is reduced. Glass bead sterilizers are most commonly used equipment of chair side sterilization of small sized dental instruments. A study conducted by the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine in Chicago concluded that glass bead sterilization was as effective as using autoclaves and is a more effective mode of sterilization than Cetylcide II.
