A comprehensive guide to determine which type of dental autoclave best suits your dentistry needs.
When it comes to dental instrument sterilisation, choosing the correct autoclave is paramount. In this guide, we explain the difference between N Type, B Type and S Type dental autoclaves by explaining their capabilities and application.
N Type
These non-vacuum dental autoclaves are suitable for sterilising solid, unwrapped instruments. They use steam from a boiler or generator to push air out of the chamber and exposing the instruments to high-pressure saturated steam to eradicate microbes, spores, and pathogens. As steam contacts materials, it effectively deactivates various microorganisms, making it highly efficient for sterilising heat and moisture-resistant equipment. But they don't guarantee that all the air is removed, and therefore cannot be used for the sterilisation of hollow instruments or those with hinge-points. The sterilisation process involves pushing air out with steam, reaching a sterilisation temperature (normally 134C), removing pressure, and then drying the items. Drying can be done with an aeration pump or by opening the door. Type N autoclaves are suitable ONLY for solid, unwrapped instruments.
B Type
These vacuum dental autoclaves use a vacuum pump to completely remove air from the chamber, and replace it with steam, which forces the steam to better penetrate the load. They are suitable for sterilising a wide range of loads, including solid, porous, hollow, wrapped, or unwrapped items. Type B autoclaves are the preferred choice for sterilising reusable dental instruments as they have almost no limits on the type of instrument they can be used with. B-Type autoclaves can be tested with industry standard test objects which can help reduce running costs.
S Type
An S Class dental autoclave allows the sterilisation of single-packed, multilayer packed and more bigger instruments, which you cannot sterilise in Type N autoclaves. they type of instrument they can be used with is defined by the manufacturer, and so an S-Class may only be able to sterilise a very limited range of instruments. S-Type units also require specific test objects for daily testing which can increase costs compared to B-Type test objects.
Which Type Is Right For You?
Each Type of dental autoclave offers distinct advantages and is suited to different types of dental instruments. Remember, the choice of dental autoclave should be based on the following specifics:
Volume and types of instruments
Non-vacuum or vacuum
Chamber Size and load capacity
Cycle times
Available space
Sterilization logging i.e. printable data logger, data logger, logging to a PC, logging to an IT network or server
Stay tuned for more informative guides to other dental equipment for your Dental Practice
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With the ability to sterilize your instruments on up to 2 trays in just 6.5 minutes (plus drying), this B Type autoclave is the fastest in the world, all while fitting into the smallest of spaces. It features a 5-litre chamber and includes a USB stick.