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Objective: The study aims to investigate the use of dental instruments without sterilization and to evaluate the status of infection control in domestic dental clinics. Methods: A total of 357 participants were enrolled, from April to May 2020, after surveying 20 dental institutions. We assessed all the instruments used during treatment, particularly those which were reused without sterilization. In cases where specific instruments were not listed, respondents marked ‘etc.’ and provided details. The frequency of infection control practices, including hand washing, wearing masks and gloves, surface disinfection, and instrument sterilization, was analyzed. Results: Reusable instruments without sterilization included the 3-way syringe, scaler, handpiece, inject syringe, bur, paper holder, and other endodontic tools. Notably, the 3-way syringe, injection syringe, handpiece, and paper holder were reused in over 50% of cases. Gloves and masks were worn 95–100% of the times during oral examinations, while handwashing rates were 25–30% pre-treatment and over 80% post-treatment. Handpieces were used in endodontic treatments and extractions, being sterilized 50–60% of the times. Conclusions: This study revealed insufficient infection control measures in dental institutions. Addressing this issue requires ongoing education, proper training of dental professionals, and essential financial support for effective measures.
Lee et al. (Fri,) studied this question.