Rotary dental instruments and the potential risk of transmission of infection: herpes simplex virus

Proper disinfection of the internal and external parts of dental rotary handpieces may destroy the infective ability of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Five dental handpieces were sterilized in an autoclave and then contaminated with an isolate of HSV-1. Viral growth occurred in each instrument. In the next experiment, two handpieces had no viral growth after being wiped with glutaraldehyde disinfectant for 30 seconds and wiped with alcohol. The rate of viral growth was reduced in the other three instruments. After flushing the internal instrument pieces and an additional alcohol wipedown of the external surface, there was no viral growth in any of the handpieces.