The aim of this in vitro study was to determine whether different disinfection/sterilization methods affected the risk of fracture of extracted teeth used for preclinical dental education. Freshly extracted intact mandibular incisors were assigned to different groups according to the processing method used. In the autoclave group (n=20), teeth were autoclaved for 40 min at 240°F under a pressure of 20 psi; in the formalin group (n=20), teeth were immersed in 10% formalin for two weeks; and in the control group (n=10), teeth were not processed. Teeth were then stored at 4°C in distilled water until use. Endodontic procedures were performed, and the fracture strength of the specimen was subsequently tested under compressive force along the long axis of the teeth using an Instron universal testing machine. The results showed that none of the specimens fractured during endodontic procedures. However, the compressive load needed to fracture the teeth was significantly less for the autoclaved teeth than the teeth stored in formalin or the control teeth (p<0.001). The disinfection/sterilization method used affected the fracture resistance of extracted teeth: autoclaved teeth were less resistant to fracture than teeth that were not sterilized or teeth that were chemically disinfected. However, fracture resistance was not reduced enough to lead to tooth fracture during preclinical endodontic procedures. Therefore, either processing method may be appropriate for teeth to be used for preclinical endodontic training.
Keywords: dental education; endodontics; extracted teeth; fracture strength; sterilization.