5. Maintenance and Cleaning
For reasons of hygiene, we recommend using a disposable
protective sleeve for each patient. Make sure to fit the
protective sleeve closely to the light probe. Disinfect
contaminated surfaces of the device and anti-glare cones
(e.g. FD 366/Dürr Dental, Incidin Liquid/Ecolab) and
sterilize the light probe before each use if disposable
protective sleeves are not used. Make sure that no liquids
or other foreign substances enter the handpiece, the
handpiece holder and particularly the power pack during
cleaning (risk of electrical shock). Disconnect the hand-
piece from the power source when cleaning it.
Housing
Wipe the handpiece and handpiece holder with a
customary aldehyde-free disinfecting solution. Do not
clean with highly aggressive disinfecting solutions (e.g.
solutions based on orange oil or with an ethanol content
of more than 40%), solvents (e.g. acetone), or pointed
instruments, which may damage or scratch the plastic.
Clean soiled plastic parts with a soap solution.
Light probe
Before cleaning and/or disinfecting the light probe, it
should be pretreated. This applies to both automated
and manual cleaning and disinfection.
Pretreatment
– Remove gross contamination immediately after use or
within 2 hours. For this purpose, thoroughly rinse the
light probe under running water (for at least
10 seconds). Alternatively, use a suitable aldehyde-free
disinfecting solution to prevent the fixation of blood.
– To remove contamination manually, use a soft brush
or soft cloth. Partially polymerized composite can be
removed with alcohol and a plastic spatula if
necessary. Do not use sharp or pointed objects,
as they may scratch the surface.
Cleaning and disinfection
For cleaning, immerse the light probe in a cleaning
solution and ensure that it is sufficiently covered with
liquid (ultrasound or careful brushing with a soft brush
may support the effect). A neutral-enzymatic cleaning
agent is recommended. When cleaning and disinfecting,
please make sure that the agents used are free of:
– organic, mineral and oxidizing acids (the minimum
admissible pH value is 5.5)
– alkaline solutions (the maximum admissible pH value
is 8.5)
– oxidizing agents (e.g. hydrogen peroxide)
Afterwards, remove the light probe
from the solution and thoroughly rinse
it under running fresh water (for at least
10 seconds). Cleaning in a thermal
disinfector is an effective alternative.
Sterilization
Thorough cleaning and disinfecting is imperative to
ensure that the subsequent sterilization is effective. Use
only autoclave sterilization for this purpose. The steriliza-
tion time (exposure time at sterilization temperature) is
4 minutes at 134 °C (273 °F); pressure should be 2 bar
(29 psi). Dry the sterilized light probe using either the
special drying program of your steam autoclave or hot
air. The light probe has been tested for up to
200 sterilization cycles.
After that, check the light probe for damage. Hold it
against light. If individual segments appear black, glass
fibres are broken. If this is the case, replace the light
probe with a new one.
Disposal
The curing light must not be disposed of as
urban waste. Dispose unserviceable polymeri-
zation lights according to the corresponding
legal requirements in your country.
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